The Proof of Concept (POC) initiative, with the Province of Iloilo as the lead actor in the devolution of basic education to LGUs, hit the ground running in three noble ACTs enabled by Synergeia’s Kickstarter training workshops for the main performers- LSBs, principals and teachers. The core objectives of these workshops are to find out what issues and challenges we face and what should be done to obtain our bottom line of having all Grade 3 students read during the School Year 2024-2025.

ACT 1: LSBs Pushed the Button for HANDA

What happens when 60 participants from the LGUs, DepEd, the local schools, the PTA and local communities bond together and agree to pivot and make Local School Boards more functional and responsive to children’s needs for a better quality of education?

The insights and perspectives drawn from the workshop were clear, diverse and realistic. They saw the risks worsening for education should the LSBs not break through the barriers of innovating how to improve learning and reading, of enabling LSBs to lead, guide and transform towards having a more systemic approach on education planning, budgeting, prioritization and overall governance and of organizing the LSBs for increased effectiveness, efficiency and results-driven strategies.

As an outcome, the group pushed the button to start moving towards an action program that will make LSBs ready to raise its performance level or what can be summarized as HANDA:

H- aving a reinvented or expanded membership.
A- ctive and involved leadership of local mayors or the LCEs in the LSBs.
N-eed to have more consistency in lSB meetings and proper documentation.
D-evelop capacity for data development, utilization and analysis to improve strategy and outlook, SEF planning and prioritization, and conductnof education summits for needs asessment and strategic planning.
A- wareness and information campaigns in the roles, responsibilities, accountabilities and performance of LSBs and LCEs.

Indeed, ACT I ended with a resolve to make LSBs HANDA or prepared to evolve as more strategic, engaged and performance-driven agents of change and realize the POC’s goal of having Grade 3 pupils able to read during the School Year 2024-2025.

Change comes more from managing the journey than announcing the destination” – William Bridges

The success of the Proof of Concept (POC) initiative, which tests the capacity of the Province of Iloilo to take leadership in the implementation of basic education, rests on the drivers of change, principally the local chieftains of the province and the officials of DepEd and DILG.

Execution is critical and necessary for results-based change management. It requires a serious degree of commitment and action from the drivers of change to derive the desired value from this devolution innovation exercise.

In the planning and organizational meeting for the POC, the drivers of change, in an eventful signing of the Pledge of Commitment, accepted responsibility and leadership for this mission to raise the quality of learning and reading for the children of their province.

The drivers of change who signed included:

1       Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., Iloilo

2       Mayor Oscar Villegas Jr,  Lemery

3       Mayor Jon Aying,  Sara

4       Mayor Lydia  Grabato ,  Mina

5       Board Member  Jason Gonzales,  Panay  REC  Chairman

6       Director Juan Ingeniero-  DILG Regional Director,  Reg 6

7       Asst Regional Director Victor De Gracia,  DepEd  Region VI

8       Mayor Jerry Treñas-  Iloilo City

9       Mayor Nielo  Tupas – Barotac Viejo

10     Mayor Elvira Alarcon – Batad

11     Mayor Elizalde Pueyo –  Cabatuan

12     Mayor Janette Colada – Guimbal

13     Mayor Vicente Escorpion Jr –  Igbaras

14     Mayor Francis Amboy –  Maasin

15     Mayor Vicente Jaen – Leganes

16     Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr –  Schools Division Superintendent of Iloilo Province

17     Dr. Ma Luz De Los Reyes –  Schools Division Superintendent of Iloilo City

The Pledge of Commitment states that:

 “We, the Governor and Mayors of Iloilo Province and the Mayor of Iloilo City, along with our partners from the Department of Education and the Department of Interior and Local Government, share the wisdom and urgent mission of helping every child to learn well.

We believe that Local Government Units, and their Local School Boards, in partnership with the schools and their communities can introduce positive changes to strengthen the delivery of quality education.

We accept the responsibility of participating in a Program that can demonstrate how the delivery of basic education can be efficiently devolved to local government.

We commit to provide leadership and dedicate resources to accomplish the following activities:

1. Strengthening the leadership and  effectiveness of Local School Boards;
2. Building the capacity of teachers in developing reading competencies of male and female children;
3. Providing opportunities for parents and guardians to be Nanay-Tatay-Teachers;
4. Organizing communities to gain support for the program;
5. Developing Public-Private Partnerships so that children can learn better;
6. Developing learning materials that reflect the stories, history, values, and traditions of the Iloilo   people; and
7. Supporting inclusive activities that will enhance the creativity and developmental values of our children.