WELLNESS IN EDUCATION: Philippines-Australia’s partnership for education. The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) have partnered to boost the Philippine education agenda through the Basic Education Sector Transformation (BEST) Program, a six-year (2013-2019) Aus$150-million (P6 billion) program to assist the Philippines improve learning quality and access to education in the context of the K-to-12 program, as well as strengthen the public education system. Australian Foreign Minister Julie I. Bishop signed in Manila on February 21, 2014, the Memorandum of Subsidiary Agreement for the BEST initiative, a commitment by Australia government to assist the Philippines promote prosperity, and enhance stability. DepEd and AusAID have been educational partners for 15 years, and Australia is the biggest bilateral grant donor to Philippine education. Among its programs being implemented in the country are Basic Education Assistance in Mindanao, the Technical Vocational Educational Project, and School Building Projects for Basic Education. The BEST program supports the Philippine education reform program to benefit more than eight million students in 19,000 public elementary and high schools nationwide. Australia helps the Philippines build new classrooms and train teachers. It supports the K-to-12 program. Under the BEST Program, there will be 1,000 more classrooms, 40 science and computer laboratories, and two Indigenous Peoples’ Learning Centers. Scholarships and training for teachers will be provided. A technology and research center will be established. The BEST program will initially focus on six regions: National Capital Region, Bicol, Northern Mindanao, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.- | Tempo - News in a Flash

Philippines-Australia’s partnership for education | Tempo - News in a Flash: "The Manila Bulletin, led by its Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. Emilio T. Yap, President and Publisher Atty. Hermogenes P. Pobre, Executive Vice President Dr. Emilio C. Yap III, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Cris J. Icban Jr., Business Editor Loreto D. Cabañes, Directors, Officers, and Employees congratulate the Department of Foreign Affairs headed by Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, Department of Education Secretary Bro. Armin A. Luistro, Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie I. Bishop, and Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell, for their partnership in providing quality, relevant education to young Filipinos and prepare for competitiveness the Filipino people in the global arena and in our Republic of the Philippines. CONGRATULATIONS AND MABUHAY!"



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