MULTIPLY-ED E-SKWELA: The Role of Local Government in Education Governance

"The local government should take the driver's seat, pero ang kabataan — ang estudyante ang dapat magdedesisyon kung saan tayo pupunta, anong sasakyan, at saan hihinto dahil tayo ang inihahatid sa magandang kinabukasan." — Ken Paolo Gilo (SCAP Chairperson)

Multiply-Ed (X-Ed) is an initiative designed to promote youth-led, multi-sectoral, and multi-level accountability in the education sector in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was created by the Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking (CYAN), Government Watch (G-Watch), and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP). The initiative seeks to enhance transparency, participation, and accountability in education governance. On March 23, 2023, Ms. Joy Anmae Abrera, the Supreme Student Government President of San Juan City Academic Senior High School, and Mr. Edward F. Banay, Project Development Officer I of the Schools Governance Office Division, attended the first forum of E-SKWELA in Tanghalang Rizal, Rizal High School in Pasig City.

Local governments are an integral part of the education system, working to ensure that children in their communities have access to quality education. They provide funding for public schools, oversee educational programs, and set educational standards. They are also responsible for creating and implementing policies that strive to reduce educational disparities and promote the use of technology in the classroom. Furthermore, local governments invest in initiatives that promote educational equity and access, such as after-school programs, teacher training, and literacy initiatives. Finally, they are responsible for developing and enforcing laws that protect student rights and promote a safe learning environment.

The forum also presented “Students to LGU’s: SAVE ME A SEAT” which speaks about how 43% of teacher respondents did not receive assistance from their LGUs, activates and strengthen the Barangays and SK Councils in promoting TPA and supporting education needs, pass executive order, creating the school board advisory council with student, principal, and education NGO representations. Save Me A Seat also tackles about how 34% of schools covered noted that their budget is not able to cover the projected expenses for the BE-LCP Implementation, pass the local school board resolution supporting participatory monitoring on key services and projects in public schools, and allot 2% of SEF for such purposes to be classified as educational research. Likewise, it included topics on the call to increase education budget and ensure accountability in its spending and utilization to address learning gaps that provides adequate educational infrastructures and materials.

#MALAYANGEDUKASYONPH: The Multiply-Ed Education Reform Agenda is designed to promote greater access to education, with the goal of addressing learning gaps and expanding psychosocial support and social welfare programs. It also seeks to improve efficiency in disadvantaged and geographically isolated areas. This agenda will also ensure an inclusive learning environment by adopting and strengthening anti-discrimination policies in schools, improving the information system in education governance, and providing spaces for transparent, participatory, and accountable education governance. The agenda seeks to promote an effective, equitable, and learner-centric education, as well as build a resilient and crisis-responsive education system.:The Multiply-Ed Education Reform Agenda is designed to promote greater access to education, with the goal of addressing learning gaps and expanding psychosocial support and social welfare programs. It also seeks to improve efficiency in disadvantaged and geographically isolated areas. This agenda will also ensure an inclusive learning environment by adopting and strengthening anti-discrimination policies in schools, improving the information system in education governance, and providing spaces for transparent, participatory, and accountable education governance. The agenda seeks to promote an effective, equitable, and learner-centric education, as well as build a resilient and crisis-responsive education system.

Article written by:

Cristine Francel Pimentel

San Juan City Academic SHS - Teacher I