Indigenous elders thank Duterte and DepEd for championing IP education
In a statement issued on November 2, Engineer Andres Ngao-i of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Council thanked President Rodrigo Duterte and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary, Leonor Briones for “unconditionally” supporting Indigenous Peoples education (IPEd).
Ngao-I lauded the formation of the Council of Elders for IPEd, which stems from Department Order 62 that directs DepEd’s policy on the education of Indigenous Peoples.
The policy requires “the active involvement and participation of indigenous cultural communities and the IPs from the different Cordillera tribes in the implementation of the program in the region” – a cornerstone in the fight for recognition, integration, and development of IPs in all sectors.
“The policy also implements the rights of the IPs for quality education as provided for in the Constitution, the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) and in several United Nations declarations,” Ngao-I added.
He explained that IP education must be ancestral domain and culture-based, not only limited to learning the songs, dances, and attire, but also “encompassing knowledge of systems, traditions, values, and worldviews.”
“That means that we have to contextualize or indigenize the curriculum making learning materials, books and references coincide with the IP culture,” he added.
Ngao-i is grateful that no less than the President recognizes the IPs for their role in nation-building.
via Philippine News Agency / Liza Agoot
