"THE SEAL IS A GUARANTEE, A MARK OF CREDIBILITY AND AUTHENTICITY, AND A SYMBOL OF EXCELLENCE BESTOWED UPON EXEMPLARY LGUS TO HONOR THEIR PURSUIT OF THE DELIVERY OF BASIC EDUCATION IN AN EXCEPTIONAL AND RELENTLESS MANNER.
THE SEAL HONORS THE LGU'S ACHIEVEMENTS AND GUARANTEES THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN THROUGH COMMUNITY COOPERATION.
OUT OF ALL LGUS IN THE COUNTRY, AROUND 250 WERE SHORTLISTED, BUT ONLY 24 CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES HAVE BEEN JUDGED TO RECEIVE THE SEAL."
DALAGUETE, CEBU IS ONE OF THEM.
Established in 2002, Synergeia is a coalition of individuals and organizations working closely with about 400 LGUs to improve the delivery of basic education to Filipino children.
The foundation intends to award the Seal of Good Education Governance to deserving LGUs every year. It received 250 LGU nominations through its website this year.
Determining the list of seal recipients was a board of judges composed of representatives from Synergeia and the Department of Education. To receive the seal, LGUs must have broadened the membership and functions of their local school board. Most of their schools should have functional School Governing Councils. Judges will also check how the LGUs have involved their communities in enabling all children to go to school.
The Special Education Fund (SEF) in the LGUs Budget must also be used on activities that promote learning.
As an indicator of performance, the average National Achievement Test score of elementary school children must be higher than the national average of 66 percent, or must have increased by at least two percentage points. Alternatively, the LGUs must have reduced the number of poor readers by at least 15 percent. Moreover, their cohort survival rate (the percentage of first graders who go on to complete sixth grade) must be higher than the national average of 70 percent, or must have increased by at least two percentage points. Finally, the LGUs must have recorded a decrease in non-readers and frustrated readers by at least 15 percentage points.
"We put together an education governance scorecard to focus on the results of their work. While anecdotes and feel-good stories about education initiatives are helpful, the scorecard enables us to objectively evaluate the performance of LGUs," said Synergeia chief executive officer Milwida Guevara. "We are happy to recognize these outstanding LGUs, and hope that the Seal of Good Education Governance would inspire them to keep making children's education a priority in their governance agenda," she added.
