The Department of Education (DepEd), the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EdCom2), and UNICEF have commended the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Gapan City for its efficient resource management and remarkable student performance, establishing it as a model for public school funding throughout the Philippines.
According to DepEd Philippines’ Facebook post, during a field visit led by Education Secretary Sonny Angara and EdCom2 Co-Chair Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, insights were shared about Gapan’s successful strategies. Strong support from parents and local government units helped students achieve a 95% score in the Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA) and above-average results in the National Achievement Tests (NAT6 and NAT10).
Photo courtesy: DepEd Philippines (FB)
Photo courtesy: DepEd Regional Office III (FB)
Secretary Angara encouraged the SDO Gapan staff to disseminate their successful practices to other divisions, showcasing the city’s ingenuity in managing limited Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).
“What is clear is that the schools and students who perform best are those who are supported not only within the schools, but also at home and by the community and the local governments,” Secretary Angara said.
“Spread the word of how you did it,” Angara encouraged, underscoring the potential for replication in other areas,” he added.
Photo courtesy: DepEd Regional Office III (FB)
Gapan East Elementary School and Kapalangan National High School have been honored by UNICEF as Top Performing Schools, demonstrating how effective management of Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) and the Special Education Fund (SEF) can lead to outstanding outcomes.
Despite the meager budget schools receive from their MOOEs, Gapan East Elementary School and Kapalangan National High School were identified in the list of Unicef’s Top Performing Schools.
EdCom2 Director Karol Mark Yee mentioned that the purpose of the field visit was to explore the financial strategies that contributed to the schools’ high performance, which could serve as a model for institutions of different sizes.
Director Yee wanted to unveil how these schools perform and utilize their MOOEs and Special Education Fund (SEF). The event also targets to identify the nuances and variations of large-sized schools compared to medium and small-sized schools regarding spending patterns and budget utilization.
Following the visit, UNICEF Deputy Representative Behzad Noubary and Gapan City Mayor Joy Pascual expressed confidence in Gapan’s sustainable approach to tackling immediate funding challenges while also promoting long-term educational objectives.
