DepEd to hold national literacy conference Sept 27-29

In support of the United Nations Literacy Decade, the Department of Education will hold a National Literacy Conference this month to boost public awareness on the role of literacy in attaining a peaceful and sustainable future. The DepEd, in a news release posted on the government portal, said the conference will be held on Sept. 27 to 29 at the Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City. Participants will include peace and education workers from the government and private sector, DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said. The DepEd also expects the conference to be a venue for sharing good practices on peace literacy and good governance being implemented by various groups across the country. “One of the outputs expected from the participants is a peace and literacy action agenda that includes programs, projects, and activities for community development," the DepEd said. Expected to attend the seminar are:

• bureau, center, and regional directors or their representatives
• schools/city divisions, superintendents, and assistant superintendents of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and formal education.
• ALS coordinators and mobile teachers, especially those belonging to fifth- and sixth-class municipalities
• officers of government agencies with extension programs involving literacy or continuing education.

Also invited to attend are heads and members of non-government organizations and civil society groups involved in universalizing literacy in the regions; and heads of local government units, barangay chairpersons, kagawad members, and barangay health workers who also work for literacy. One of the highlights of the conference is the presentation of the National Literacy Hall of Fame Award to Tagum City for being a three-time first place winner in the Outstanding Local Government Unit category in the National Literacy Awards. The Philippines scored a win in the 2011 UNESCO International Literacy Prizes when Tagum City was awarded for its exemplary accomplishment in achieving a thriving business community as a result of its peace education campaign. — LBG, GMA News