By Brian Campued
In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to develop better learning spaces and quality education for every Filipino learner, the Department of Education (DepEd) has launched a school readiness mechanism ahead of the opening of classes next week as well as a scholarship program for aspiring teachers.
In a press briefing Thursday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Education Secretary Sonny Angara led DepEd’s “Project Handa” to ensure safe and orderly opening of classes on June 8.
“Alinsunod ito sa direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. na gawing prayoridad ang pagpapalakas ng education system ng bansa,” Castro said.
Castro said that with Project Handa, school personnel would be able to immediately determine whether school facilities are ready, assess whether students are receiving appropriate support, and thoroughly review the instructional readiness of schools.
The data-driven system tracks critical indicators across key components, including physical facilities, support to learners, and instructional readiness, allowing DepEd to strategically deploy resources and address public school needs.
Angara said that the initiative is pursuant to the Marcos administration’s directive to strengthen education governance through data-driven solutions.
“Mahalaga na maging tumpak at mabilis ang ating pagkuha ng datos sa bawat paaralan upang agad nating matugunan ang kakulangan sa mga pasilidad at kagamitan bago magbukas ang klase,” the DepEd chief said.
Through the tracker, budget allocations are being mapped out to address critical and urgent structural interventions, such as facility upgrades and repairs; the provision of vital ICT devices like tablets, laptops, or televisions; as well as the distribution of textbooks and other learning materials.
Apart from the nationwide Brigada Eskuwela, DepEd has also begun preparations for teachers and school heads following the end of the teachers’ vacation period.
Orientation programs and training sessions are likewise being conducted for newly hired teachers, while principals are undergoing leadership training ahead of the opening of classes, DepEd said.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), for its part, assured the public that school supplies will remain affordable as the school opening nears.
The agency is also monitoring traders who may engage in overpricing and other abusive practices, Castro said.
“Tinitiyak ng DTI na abot-kaya ang mga school supplies ngayong malapit na ang pasukan. Walang puwang sa ating bansa ang overpriced items at mapang-abusong traders. Pag-asa para sa pamilya sa halip na dagdag na pag-alala ang hatid ng pinaigting na bantay presyo ng ahensiya,” Castro said.
DepEd is also focused on improving functional literacy among Filipino learners, with the “Bawat Bata Makababasa” Program being implemented under Republic Act 12028 or the “Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act,” which was signed in 2024.
Citing a report from Angara, Castro said the first year of implementation of the ARAL Program Act showed good results in terms of improving reading levels of students.
“May 100 poor municipalities na tinututukan ng BBM (Bawat Bata Makababasa) Program and according to him, we measure progress at the beginning of school year in the middle and end to track progress of learners, and we also have achievement tests at certain levels,” Castro said.
Meanwhile, the DepEd–Teacher Education Council (TEC) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Commission on Higher Education’s Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (CHED-UniFAST) for the launching of the P103.32-million Teacher Education Scholarship Program (TESP).
In a press release Wednesday, Angara said around 720 aspiring teachers nationwide will receive financial assistance under TESP, helping them complete their degrees and eventually earn licenses and practice their profession.
Starting the Academic Year 2026–2027, the program will provide financial support to students pursuing Early Childhood Education, Values Education, and Special Needs Education, areas identified as requiring additional support to ensure that learners receive age-appropriate, values-centered, and inclusive education.
“President Bongbong Marcos has repeatedly emphasized that education is the foundation of national development. This scholarship program turns that vision into action by investing in the people who will shape the next generation of Filipinos,” Angara said.
“A scholarship for a future teacher is one of the highest-return investments a country can make. One teacher can influence hundreds of learners throughout a career. The impact multiplies across generations,” he added.
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