DECS TEEP PROGRESSING IN BATANES
(By PIA-Batanes)

Batanes waves a good record of having achieved 105% accomplishment in the DECS-TEEP (Third Elementary Education Project) compared to other regions.

TEEP which aims foremost to improve learning achievement, to increase completion rate among pupils in the elementary and to improve elementary schools is active in the province. The speedy performance is facilitated by the maximum cooperation and support of municipal mayors, provincial government and congressional district office in coming up with the 25% counterpart of IGU's. The P180 million for Batanes DECS TEEP project, P45 M or 25% is sourced from the IGU's.

The components of TEEP are Division Educ. Development Plan (DEDP), School improvement and Innovation Facility (SIIF), In-Service Trainings (INSET), Instructional Materials (IMs), Student Assessment (SA), School Building Program (SBP), Policy Research and Strategic Planning (PRSP), Instruction Education Communication and Advocacy (IECA).

Cong. Abad said last month that the government cancelled P21 million for TEEP due to disagreements on TEEP matters among officials in some places. There are 26 identified poor provinces in the country but 4 of these are excluded in the TEEP but shall avail of funds for other projects which are prioritized according to their needs. Batanes is still one of the 22 provinces because of our population, our unique condition, our income and geographical location that is accessible to government development foundation.

TEEP is a partnership endeavour between the DECS and the municipalities thus involving its Parents Teacher and Community Association (PTCA). Both should and is expected to vibrate with the same frequency, seeing eye to eye, working hand in hand for a set of common goals.

From the start, the partnership to transform education from a purely service orientation and service delivery into a client centered organization has been healthy.

Congressman Abad concluded that with things getting into place TEEP in Batanes will be through within 3 years instead of the normal projection of a 5 year program.