ChildFund Philippines and SEAMEO INNOTECH launch the country's first localized social and emotional learning framework

 

Manila, Philippines – ChildFund Philippines, in collaboration with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH), recently introduced the country’s first localized social and emotional learning (SEL) framework. 

ChildFund Philippines, in collaboration with SEAMEO INNOTECH, recently introduced the country’s first localized SEL framework at SEAMEO INNOTECH’s office in Quezon City. (L-R: Kochakorn Khattapan Acidre, Deputy Center Director of SEAMEO INNOTECH; Marlene Floresca, Education Specialist of ChildFund Philippines; Dr. Dexter Galban, Assistant Secretary for Operations of the Department of Education; Dr. Leonor Magtolis Briones, Center Director of SEAMEO INNOTECH; Anand Vishwakarma, Country Director of ChildFund Philippines; and, Dr. Grace Aguiling-Dalisay, President and CEO of Center for Educational Measurement)

 

The 2024-2027 SEL program is designed to resonate with the unique cultural nuances of Filipino students in public schools. It aims to: 

⦁ Develop adaptable SEL curriculum models that can be tailored to different cultural contexts, 

⦁ Foster a sense of ownership and sustainability within communities by involving them in the adaptation and implementation processes,

⦁ Provide evidence-based recommendations for integrating localized SEL into educational policies at local, regional, and national levels, and; 

⦁ Share findings through academic publications, conferences, and workshops to contribute to the global discourse on effective SEL localization.

“When we started building the SEL framework, we envisioned a localized approach engaging all stakeholders in the country – teachers, parents, and students. This collaborative effort ensures the framework addresses the holistic development of both learners and educators, making it culturally relevant and impactful,” said Anand Vishwakarma, Country Director of ChildFund Philippines.

Marlene Floresca, Education Specialist of ChildFund Philippines, emphasized that the SEL framework helps students develop "pagpapakatao" (being humane) and "pakikipagkapwa-tao" (fellowship), to become capable and self-trusting individuals.

 

The social and emotional learning competency framework showcases that Filipino students and learners must develop "pagpapakatao" (being humane) and "pakikipagkapwa-tao" (fellowship) to become capable and self-trusting individuals.

The competency framework also equips teachers with tools to better support students, contributing to a more inclusive and supportive educational environment. “The success of the SEL framework depends on the active involvement of teachers, along with parents and communities. Their participation ensures that the framework addresses the specific social and emotional needs of both learners and educators,” said Dr. Leonor Magtolis Briones, Center Director of SEAMEO INNOTECH. 

Developing SEL skills early, starting in kindergarten and potentially even earlier, supports long-term success. According to Dr. Grace Aguiling-Dalisay, President and CEO of Center for Educational Measurement, assessing SEL skills alongside cognitive skills is imperative. “We are working with the education department to integrate these assessments into the SEL framework, ensuring evidence-based progress.” 

Implementing the Framework

Implementation will begin this year with a pilot in select public schools to test the framework's effectiveness. Following this, it will be integrated into school-wide practices and policies for students, educators, and non-teaching staff.

The technical working group, who has been involved in the development of the framework including the Department of Education (DepEd), will endorse SEL modules accessible via an e-learning platform. Teachers and school heads will complete these courses and earn professional development points through the National Educators Academy of the Philippines and the Professional Regulation Commission. 

The framework supports the DepEd’s MATATAG Agenda: Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa, which aims to take care of learners by promoting their well-being and give support to teachers to perform better. It shall be implemented across the K-12 curriculum and expanded to mental health programs in schools nationwide.

“This SEL framework responds to the call for an education system that imparts knowledge and cultivates the social and emotional foundation children need to build their dreams, equipping them beyond what books can teach,” said Dr. Dexter Galban, Assistant Secretary for Operations of the DepEd. 

The organization and its partners interviewed K-12 and Alternative Learning System students across Metro Manila, Apayao, Negros Occidental, North Cotabato, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi to develop the framework.

For more information about the SEL competency framework, visit https://childfund.org.ph/.

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About ChildFund and SEAMEO INNOTECH 

ChildFund is an international child-focused organization working in 24 countries throughout Asia, Africa, and the Americas to support children experiencing deprivation, exclusion, and vulnerabilities to improve their lives and become young adults who bring lasting and positive change in their communities. In the Philippines, ChildFund has been working with partner communities since the 1960’s. We currently work with 11 partner local organizations in 393 barangays, 12 cities, 38 municipalities and 17 provinces. In 2022, we reached about 1.4 million children and family members by implementing education, health, child protection, and disaster risk management (DRM) programs. 

ChildFund’s education program aspires to contribute to DepEd’s MATATAG vision through our efforts towards equitable and quality basic education, most especially for children who are experiencing deprivation, exclusion, and vulnerabilities. ChildFund believes that children can learn best in nurturing, safe, and secure physical, social, and virtual environments. ChildFund focuses on recovering learning losses and designing and implementing alternative options for learning to reach more children and young adolescents in vulnerable situations to support improvement of their academic and social-emotional learning outcomes.  

SEAMEO INNOTECH is one of the 26 specialist centers of SEAMEO located in the different Southeast Asian countries. It provides innovative and technology-oriented learning services, research-based solutions, information sharing, and knowledge management to enable the education community in Southeast Asia to effectively respond to current and emerging needs and concerns. Its vision of a better future for every learner in Southeast Asia aims to position the Center as a major player and agenda-setter in ensuring that a better, brighter, and more promising future awaits every learner in the region. It has extensive experience in developing competency frameworks and competency-based professional development programs for educators in Southeast Asia.  

ChildFund Philippines and INNOTECH share the same vision of helping learners achieve a better future by supporting their well-being and rights.