The Bureau of Education and International Cooperation (DepEd-ICO) received 10 boxes of children’s books from the Korean International Coordinating Agency (KOICA) on May 4th.
The KOICA team has completed the donation of 1,000 books for identified “last mile” schools in the Calabarzon region. The DepEd ICO director Margarita Consolacion C. Ballesteros officially received the items in a ceremonial sale.
Last mile schools according to DepEd Memo No. 059, S. 2019, are located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA). They have fewer than four classrooms that are considered nonstandard, no electricity and funds for repairs in the past four years, more than an hour away from the city center, multi-level classes with fewer than five teachers, and fewer than 100 learners with more than 75 percent of them are from indigenous peoples.
Before delivery, samples of the books are checked by the Curriculum Development Office and the Learning Resources Office of the Undersecretary’s Office for Curriculum and Instruction to ensure that the books match the learning materials published by DepEd.
DepEd is currently investigating areas of possible collaboration with KOICA through ICO that may lead to the development of a Memorandum of Understanding to maximize the benefits of the partnership for those involved in basic education.
Established in accordance with DepEd Order No. 19, p. 2010, ICO has been assigned as a specific office within the department to monitor its international concerns and serves as the clearing house for all international transactions.
