By June 2018 nine (9) teacher-fellows trained by Teach for the Philippines will immerse themselves in selected public schools in the cities of Talisay, Silay and Victorias in the Third District of Negros Occidental, to help provide innovation and more productivity in the learning system to improve performance of both teachers and students.

Third District goes ‘thumbs up!’ for Teach for the Philippines led by Congressman Alfredo Benitez (seated, 3rd from left). Also in photo are (seated left to right): Talisay Mayor Neil Lizares, Victorias Mayor Wantan Palanca, TFP vice-chair Margarita Delgado and Silay Mayor Mark Golez. Standing at the back are some of the City Councilors, education consultants, and DepEd representatives.

This was the initial agreement with the Mayors of Talisay, Silay and Victorias, with Teach for the Philippines vice-chairperson Margarita Delgado and Third District Representative Alfredo Benitez who attended the recent gathering of education stakeholders in Talisay City where TFP presented their  flagship initiative, the Fellowship Program.

Cong. Benitez initiated the orientation activity, attended by Talisay Mayor Neil Lizares, Silay Mayor Mark Golez and Victorias Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca together with members of  their respective City Councils’ chairpersons on education committees and education consultants.  Also present were Negros Occ. Division OIC SDS Gladys Amylaine Sales, and Silay Schools Division Admin Officer Jowel Alimon.

Teach for the Philippines (TFP) is a nation-wide non-profit organization working with progressive local governments and school divisions who share the common vision for education equity.The Fellowship Program recruits volunteers from diverse academic disciplines and professional backgrounds, provide them with intensive pre-service training on progressive teaching, and fields them on a two-year leadership development program in a Philippine public school.  The teacher-fellows immerse themselves in the classroom and the community, interacting with students, teachers, parents and neighbors, even village leaders, exploring holistic education approaches to attain enrichment breakthroughs.

Cong. Benitez said as he welcomed TFP for the Third District, “In harnessing the best and the brightest, we are helping to upgrade the education system in the countryside.  If we have good teachers, we will also have good students.”

A memorandum of agreement is expected to be finalized with participating stakeholders by end of January 2018, as the Mayors and Councilors assured the TFP of support in ensuring the cooperation of their respective City Councils.

TFP was also represented by Jan Kevin Rivera, interim director for government relations and placement,  and Levi Guillermo Geganzo, manager for government relations and placement.*