Synergeia Goes Very South to Tawi-Tawi
Last November 23-24, Synergeia went all the way south to Tawi-tawi to meet with our newest partners in the DIWA program.
The DIWA program is part of the USAID’s EQuALLs project in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. In collaboration with local governments, DEPED, parents, the business sector, NGOs and academic institutions, DIWA aims to improve competencies of children in Mindanao in reading and mathematics. The program started in October 2004 with four participating local governments: Marawi City, Datu Paglas, Barira, and Upi. In April 2005, the alliance has expanded to include General Santos City and Saranggani province. Now, four municipalities from Sulu and Tawi-tawi joins the team as well.
DEPED Usec. Mike Luz and partners from the Local Government Support Program of the Canadian International Development Agency (LGSPA-CIDA) joined the Synergeia team. They were met by the Tawi-Tawi team led by Mayor Nurbert M. Sahali of Panglima Sugala and DEPED Schools Division Superintendent Ms. Nihma F.L. Unda.
Dr. Nene Guevara led the group in a workshop to develop and create the goals, strategies and work program of DIWA in Tawi-Tawi. Members of the local governments of Bongao and Panglima Sugala, PTCA representatives, officials from the DEPED and Principal Ester Ocampo participated in the workshop.
Their agreed targets were:
- To achieve a grade of at least 75% in reading and mathematics
- To develop good values among our children
- To help students complete at least elementary education
- To help students to be competitive with private schools
- To involve more parents in school
The group discussed the Synergeia Education Governance Program and defined the roles of each partner and stakeholder. The major components of the program are:
- Training of teachers
- Incentives to performing teachers
- Reinvention of Local School Board
- Development and production of Teachers’ manuals (English, Science, Math and Filipino)
- Development and production of student textbooks and workbooks
- Training of parents
The Tawi-Tawi group was very enthusiastic about the project. They immediately set a schedule for assessment of student performance (February 2006) and for their education summit (March 2006). Synergeia looks forward to this returning with a hopeful and happy heart.
 
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