Welcome, DepEd Field Ambassador!

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It’s the #BalikEskwela season once more! Given the great relevance andbreakthrough of Senior High School, the last mile of our K to 12 basiceducation reform, this year’s school opening has been set to be one of themost anticipated and monitored in our country’s history.

Beyond doing our utmost best to prepare our facilities, staff, and materials,it is crucial that we also prepare and welcome our learners, parents, and thegeneral Filipino public to this new beginning. It is important that we areable make every member of our schools and communities feel theexcitement and hope brought about by the biggest reform in education.

This guide is designed to help you to do just this! Through effectivecommunication and management of media channels, we would be able toproperly position the opening of School Year 2016 - 2017 as not necessarilythe perfectly finished product, rather a ready start for the continuousimprovement of our K to 12 Basic Education Program Reform.

With our learners’ best interests in mind, let us remember that we caninspire more good as One DepEd with One Voice.

Ipagmalaki natin: Tayo – Handang Magsimula Para sa Kabataang Pilipino!

“You do not have to be great to begin, but you have to begin to be great.”

1. To set the proper expectations with our stakeholders and the general public for Balik Eskwela 2016

2. To unify and align DepEd’s communication approach in the following:a) Engaging the peopleb) Disseminating crucial informationc) Inspiring confidence for K to 12 / SHS

OUR OBJECTIVE

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K to 12 is not simply a program that belongs to DepEd. It stands as a rightto quality basic education that belongs to every Filipino learner today andfor years to come, as written in our law. This is much too important to bejust DepEd’s responsibility. It needs the help of every parent, teacher,administrator, community leader, in every part of this country to make itreach its full potential. It can only be as fruitful as how much eachcommunity makes it to be. The K to 12 implementation will not yet beperfect on the first week of school, but DepEd and its partners are ready tobegin the process of continuous improvement to achieve the kind ofeducation our children deserve one day at a time.

Mayroon tayong 47,000 paaralang nakakalat sa buong Pilipinas. Kailangannating magsama-sama at tumayo para sa patuloy na pagpapaigi ngprogramang K to 12 sa bawat rehiyon, bawat division, at higit sa lahat, sabawat paaralan. Tayo para sa edukasyon. Tayo sa para edukasyon.

THE #BALIKESWELA2016 STORY

OUR KEY MESSAGE THEMES

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THEME KEY STATEMENTS

TayoThe education of our people

is a shared responsibility

• Tayo para sa Edukasyon.• K to 12 is a big and difficult reform. Magtulungan tayo.

Magkaisa tayo para sa mga bata.• 47,000 ang paaralan sa Pilipinas, at may 24M na mag-aaral.

Pag may alam kayong pagkukulang, kailangan itong i-report para ma-aksyunan Bukas ang DepEd para sa mga suhestyonna makatutulong sa pagpapabuti ng K to 12 program.

HandangMagsimula

DepEd and its partners have done its part

to be ready to continuously

improve the K to 12 program

• Ngayon pa lang, may Plan B at C na tayo.• The full potential of K to 12 might not be felt perfectly during

the first week of school, but DepEd and its partners are ready to continuously improve the implementation of the K to 12 program.

• For the first time in the last 6 years, we are finishing the construction of classrooms needed for this school year. In the past, we were addressing backlogs of previous years.

• There may be inconveniences but this will only be temporary as we are in the transition stage.

Para Sa Bata / Kabataang

PilipinoWe have put the Filipino learner first

and foremost

• K to 12 is an investment for the future of Filipino children.• Ang bata pa rin ang panalo sa K to 12.• “One of the criticisms is ‘why do you do it? You’re not ready’”

says Luistro. “That’s fine, I think, when we think of it as a conceptual reform. But I come face to face with students who are 5 to 6-year-olds. I can’t tell them, ‘stop growing, wait until we have a solution.’ So we have to do it now. It will not be perfect. It may be makeshift. Maybe we’ll have to refine it the year after. The urgency is there because there are children who are in these communities now.”

Tayo – Handang Magsimula Para sa Kabataang Pilipino!

#BALIKESKWELA2016 THEME

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Tayo para sa edukasyon. As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise achild.” DepEd believes in engaging the family, community, differentsectors, and other stakeholders in sharing the responsibility for developinglifelong learners in our children. Our doors and our lines will remain open toall those who need assistance, while we actively communicate with thepublic and involved groups on the latest K to 12 updates.

A. Partnerships with Different Sectors• The government has integrated its efforts and engaged partners from

different sectors (private, LGUs, non-government organizations, andgovernment agencies) to ensure that the implementation of the K to12 Program is on track.

• CHED offers developmental grants to academic and non-academicpersonnel. This includes scholarships for graduate studies,development grants for faculty and staff, and innovation grants forinstitutions.

• DOLE provides income support/augmentation to academic, academicsupport, and non-academic personnel (permanent and non-permanent) for 12 months.

• Local government units have taken an active role in theimplementation of the Senior High School Program. Examples: QuezonCity has come up with different facilities and means to provide for therequirements of the K to 12 tracks that will be offered in the city. Thelocal government of Polomolok in South Cotabato has also offered freeuse of its resources for the training and immersion of the Tech-Vocstudents from Polomolok National High School.

• Public and private institutions have come together and helped incrafting the curriculum for specific SHS program offerings. Examples:Ateneo de Naga helped in curriculum development, teacher trainingand mentoring for the first Tboli Senior High School in Lake Sebu,South Cotabato. Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has also tiedup with DepEd to develop instructional materials necessary for theproper implementation of the SHS maritime specialization.

DETAILED KEY MESSAGES FOR #BALIKESKWELA2016

TAYO - Handang Magsimula Para sa Kabataang Pilipino

TAYOThe education of our people is a shared responsibility

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B. Tayong lahat para sa edukasyon• For Parents

o Enroll your children as early as possibleo Prepare your children to go back to schoolo Attend orientations and seminars in schools.o Take and active part in your child’s education.

• Brigada Eskwela, Adopt-a-School, and any other donations• For concerns, report specifics to DepEd. Let us work together to

solve these challenges.

C. How to Reach Us• SHS Hotline: In partnership with IBEX Global Solutions, DepEd

has established a Senior High School help desk (call center) toaddress the concerns and queries of the public about SHS. Thepublic can get in touch with us thru 667-1188 or 1800-1888-6349. They can email shshelpdesk@deped.gov.ph. It will beoperational from 9am to 6pm, Mondays to Friday, until June 30,2016.

• OBE Command Center: DepEd has reactivated its Oplan BalikEskwela command center for general concerns about schoolopening. The public may call 636-1663, 632-1361, 633-9346,633-7255, 638-7529, 635-9817, 632-1365, 633-2120, 0919-456-027, action@deped.gov.ph

• Website and Social media: Please visit our websitewww.deped.gov.ph or leave a message thru our Facebook page,or tweet us at @DepEd_PH.

• Get in touch with your school / division in learning more aboutthe K to 12 Program.

D. How We Plan to Engage the Public• School-level engagement• Our endorsers and supporters• Our External Campaign

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E. Case Stories• Local government units have taken an active role in the

implementation of the Senior High School Program. Examples: Quezon City has come up with different facilities and means to provide for the requirements of the K to 12 tracks that will be offered in the city. The local government of Polomolok in South Cotabato has also offered free use of its resources for the training and immersion of the Tech-Voc students from PolomolokNational High School.

• Public and private institutions have come together and helped in crafting the curriculum for specific SHS program offerings. Examples: Ateneo de Naga helped in curriculum development, teacher training and mentoring for the first Tboli Senior High School in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has also tied up with DepEd to develop instructional materials necessary for the proper implementation of the SHS maritime specialization.

• Next to the elementary school, an annex high school was set up last year. The annex high school consists of two make-shift nipahouses. Though crudely constructed, they are actually much cooler under the hot sun than the hollow block classrooms of the neighboring elementary school as there are no walls to trap the heat.

• The parents in the community set up the school because they did not want their sons and daughters to have to ride a boat every day to faraway Culion National High School in the main town. (http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/30861-deped-luistro-profile)

• The indigenous community in LAKAS High School, which started as a community-run private school serving Ayta learners but was eventually turned over to DepEd, continues to work with the Agency in implementing Indigenous Peoples Education in sync with the K to 12 Program. The Ayta community is working side by side with DepEd in curriculum planning, development, assessment, and evaluation. The school is planning to offer TVL track specializing on Agriculture.

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Handang MagsimulaDepEd and its partners have done its part to be ready to continuously improve the K to 12 program

Since 2011, DepEd has been implementing the K to 12 Program in phasesand has laid down the foundations for the historic and nationwideimplementation of Senior High School come June 2016. May nagawa natayo at marami pang kailangang gawin. Marami pa tayong haharapin sapinakamalaking reporma ng edukasyon pero kung sama-sama tayo atnagtutulungan, mas magiging magaan ang ating dalahin. We mustcontinuously work to further improve the implementation of the biggestreform in education. There will be challenges and implementation may notbe perfect, but we must work together for the future of our Filipinolearners. Patuloy tayong magsama-sama para sa Kabataang Pilipino.

A. Years of planning, consultations, and hard work:• We are on the sixth year of the implementation of the K to 12

Program. Our last mile is the Senior High School. All 18 regionsand 221 divisions (per province and city) of the Department ofEducation have been working hard on preparations and havebeen collaborating with all stakeholders to implement K to 12.

• While implementation may not be perfect, we must do this nowbecause this reform is long overdue. As Secretary Luistro hassaid, we cannot wait any longer because our children need thisnow. DepEd is open to feedback and criticism, it will help uscontinuously improve. Let us work together.

• Kung may nakikitang kulang o problema, email niyo po kami saaction@deped.gov.ph. Ayusin po natin.

• SBAL: "Kung may building na hindi matatapos, ngayon pa lang,may Plan B and Plan C na sila. Meron na silang na i-dentify naexcess classroom o kaya another program that will address that.So 'yun, kampante ako dun," he said.

B. Increase in Investment:• The government prioritizes the education of Filipino learners.

There has been a sustained and unprecedented growth in thenational budget from 174.5Bn in 2009 to 433.5Bn in 2016. Thebudget for basic education has been increased by 148% in thelast six years.

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C. Schools offering Senior High School• In SY 2012-2013, DepEd modeled the SHS program to over

10,000 students in a total of 56 schools around the Philippines.The results of this modeling program, including best practicesand learning experiences of students, have influenced thecreation of the current SHS curriculum.

• Over 10,900 schools nationwide will offer Senior High School inJune 2016. Of this number, 5,900 are public schools operatedand funded by DepEd; 5,028 are private schools, private andpublic universities and colleges, and technical vocational schools.Based on years of planning and consulation with stakeholders(parents, teachers, local industries, etc.), there are over 17,000Senior High School program offerings spread among DepEdschools nationwide.

D. Teacher Hiring• DepEd is hiring teachers at an unprecedented rate. With the

improved process, DepEd was able to fast track its hiring: with anaverage of three months hiring period now, compared to anaverage of 14 months before. With over 172,000 teachers hiredfrom 2010 to 2015, records show that DepEd has an average of98% filling up rate in the last six years.

• Aside from 172,459 public school teachers that DepEd has hiredsince 2010, DepEd also created an additional 53,750 teacheritems--of which 17,600 are intended for K to 10 and 36,150 forSenior High School. DepEd continues to train its teachers in syncwith the roll-out of the enhanced curriculum.

• Department is prioritizing the hiring of qualified displaced HEIteaching and non-teaching staff. Faculty of TVIs and HEIs will begiven priority in hiring for the transition period from September2015 until SY 2021-2022.

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Para Sa Bata / Kabataang PilipinoWe have put the Filipino learner first and foremost

Senior High School (SHS) is an investment for the Filipino student. Theprogram equips each graduate with the knowledge and skills that will helpprepare them better for their chosen path--be it higher education,employment, or entreprenuership. If we continue to work together, we willbe able to stand stronger amidst the constraints/challenges we face in thepreparations for SHS. Let us focus on what needs to be done to successfullyset it in place. Magkakaroon ng sapat na kaalaman at kasanayan ang bawatSenior High School graduate. Sa SHS, magiging handa sila para sa trabaho,negosyo, o kolehiyo.

• SHS covers the last two years (Grades 11 and 12) of the K to 12Program. In SHS, students go through a core curriculum and subjectsunder a track of their choice.

• The four SHS tracks students can choose from are:1. Academic (which includes Business, Science & Engineering,

Humanities & Social Science, and a General Academic strand)2. Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (with highly specialized subjects

with TESDA qualifications)3. Sports4. Arts & Design

• The two years of SHS cap a learner’s basic education. Upongraduation, students now have the option of pursuing employment,entrepreneurship, skills development (through further Tech-Voctraining), and higher education.

• SHS is an investment because graduates of basic education will nowbe of legal age to work (18 years old) and have the necessaryknowledge, skills, and experience to be gainfully employed.

• SHS will be offered for free in public schools and DepEd has set inplace the Senior High School Voucher Program, a government subsidy,for Grade 10 completers who wish to pursue SHS in private institutions.

• Prior to the implementation of Senior HS, only 43% of Grade 10completers enrol in college and only 14% graduate, leaving themajority of HS graduates out of school and unable to seek gainfulemployment due to lack of knowledge/skills and being underage.

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• Our early enrolment figures show that at least 66.7% of the Grade 10completers are entering public Senior HS and 33.3% will enroll in aprivate Senior HS. Over 1.3 million learners are expected to continueGrade 11 this year.

• Based on early enrolment data, we have 17,165 “returning learners”who are non Grade 10 completers in SY 2015-2016. “Returning”learners are individuals who have finished 4th year high school (or ALS)in 2015 or earlier and have signified their interest to enter Grade 11voluntarily in 2016.

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The Simplified Interview Guidefor the DepEd Field Ambassador

Dos DON’Ts

Before accepting an interview, know the scope and topic. Once the interview is set, make sure you get the following:- List of questions- Format of the interview- Name of the reporter & media outlet- Time and date of interview

Accepting an impromptu interviews is highly discouraged as it could cause the spread of misinformation or incorrect messaging. Rather, request the reporter to schedule an interview at least a week in advance.

Create your personal prep document / briefer to aid you in your interviews. Take note of our Key Messages DepEd in the previous pages.

Attempting to wing an interview, or to play it by ear, could prove dangerous.

If possible, bring along someone who can help you cite statistics and details of the topic. He / She can help you take notes or record the interview for reviewing purposes.

If you are not 100% sure with the answer, politely offer that you will get back to the interviewer with the exact figure once you have confirmed. Do not guess or give an estimate. It would also be best if you include key statistics in your briefer.

Bring your prep doc / briefer, but refrain from sharing it with the media. Make one for their use, but don’t offer unless asked.

Disclosing any sensitive information or opinions could negatively affect the public perception of Balik Eskwela.

Remember to position (and refocus if needed) the discussion to the key messages, especially in response to the challenges.

Entertaining any discussion that might lead to a negative and misunderstood image of DepEd must be redirected back to our key messages for the interview.

Monitor the media to check if the article or report is aligned with the information you gave.

If your school or DepEd is reported in a bad light after the interview, keep level-headed! Avoid airing your emotions prematurely.

If not, contact DepEd Central Office and the media outlet for corrective action.

Leaving concerns about DepEd unaddressed publicly could lessen the trust of our parents and students in us.

As DepEd Field Ambassadors, we are literally the face and voice of the entireDepartment of Education, not just in our community, but through the media,across the nation. Some of us have grown comfortable in front of the camera,microphone, or pen, while most of us still feel very nervous when directlydealing with these media personalities. Read on for help in your next mediaencounter!

BEFO

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Practice, Practice, Practice!- Guide off-topic / tricky questions back to key messages- Position answers on tough questions related to challenges- Role play with a colleague / friend and get feedback on the impression you’ve left- Practice with the interviewer 15 to 30 minutes before the interview if possible

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DEPED FIELD AMBASSADOR NOTES: