DepEd, NCIP strengthen partnership for IP education

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) have agreed to strengthen cooperative efforts to ensure quality and accessibility of basic education for learners from indigenous communities.

Officials of the two agencies last week signed a memorandum of understanding to ensure that the special needs, histories, identities, languages, knowledge and other aspects of indigenous peoples’ culture are addressed and incorporated in IP education programs.

The DepEd acknowledged the need to strengthen its collaboration with the NCIP to provide indigenous cultural communities and IP learners with access to quality basic education that is consistent with their cultural integrity, social justice and human rights.

It has committed to participate in convergence efforts with other agencies to boost the impact of its programs for indigenous cultural communities.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones earlier expressed the agency’s commitment in strengthening the implementation of the IP Education Program, which is anchored on the recognition of the right of indigenous peoples to basic education that respects their identities and promotes their knowledge, competencies and other aspects of their cultural heritage.

“The DepEd is committed to advocating and institutionalizing policies and practices that shall actualize sensitivity and responsiveness of the department as a whole through its various programs to IP culture, traditions and institutions,” she said.

“These programs will be implemented with full respect to their human rights and freedoms without distinction or discrimination, to achieve full development, cultural integrity, equality and equity in the enforcement of rights and opportunities granted by the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act and other existing laws and regulations,” she added.

A technical working group composed of representatives from the DepEd and the NCIP will be created to review concerns of mutual interest related to the IP Education Program and its implementation.

In observance of the National IP Day on Aug. 9 and the National IP Month in October, the DepEd reaffirmed its commitment to promote culture-based education for IP learners and sustained initiatives that engage IP communities.