December 10, 2020 – The Department of Education (DepEd) virtually signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the International Care Ministries (ICM) last December 4 to cement a partnership to assist parents of learners, especially in Kindergarten, on a better understanding of the modules provided by their schools.
DepEd Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships, and Project Management Service Tonisito Umali emphasized the importance of the role of parents in distance learning. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DepEd has implemented distance learning for all students this school year. The DepEd partnership with ICM will help train more parents to teach their children at home.
The first five years of a child’s life set the foundation for a lifetime of learning. Every year of education reduces a child’s chances of living in poverty. However, poor children face many obstacles that work against their ability to do well at school. Not the least of these is a lack of school-readiness before they even begin.
ICM’s Family Academy has a two-generation approach equips parents with skills in values, health, and parenthood. Family Academy teaches ultra-poor mothers to be their children’s first teachers (something they never dreamed they could be). ICM’s trained qualified volunteers mentor parents on how to engage their children through fun educational activities. Moms learn how to lead their children in educational games and songs, children quickly grasp math and phonics skills that prepare them for a smooth transition to school. As a side benefit, parent-child relationships flourish as well, parents are empowered with skills that strengthen positive engagement with their children.
Read more about ICM’s partnership with the Philippines’ Department of Education.