Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced its initiative to strengthen partnerships with the church and community organizations to support the welfare of learners. This collaboration aims to address pressing challenges such as poverty, mobility, and weak retention rates among marginalized students.

According to Philippines News Agency, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the importance of these partnerships in supporting the Marcos administration's educational goals. He highlighted the potential of collaborating with Caritas Philippines, which has a national network of 86 diocesan social action centers, to enhance the reach and impact of DepEd's programs.

Angara expressed that the stories and successes from these community collaborations are the driving force behind meaningful educational reforms. He pointed to church-led initiatives like flexible, trust-based community learning centers as vital components of this effort. Furthermore, church-based groups can contribute to DepEd's objectives through volunteer tutoring, mentoring, and local learning initiatives in underserved areas.

Currently, DepEd is implementing several key programs aimed at improving learners' welfare. These include the school-based feeding program, learning recovery initiatives, and the Alternative Learning System (ALS). The expanded School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) is set to benefit all Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners nationwide.

In addition to addressing immediate nutritional needs, DepEd is focused on learning recovery through the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, which seeks to scale up ongoing efforts. The ALS program provides a critical pathway for out-of-school youth, working adults, and other disadvantaged learners to re-engage with the educational system.