Davao City – Minister Mohagher Iqbal, head of the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), delivered a comprehensive "State of Education Address" during the Second Bangsamoro Education Summit, held at the Dusit Thani Residence in Davao City on November 28-29, 2024.

The summit, themed "One MBHTE: Advancing Access, Equity, and Excellence in All Bangsamoro Learning Modalities," focused on the progress and challenges facing the Bangsamoro education system.

In his speech, Iqbal highlighted significant strides made in enhancing access to education, promoting equity, and achieving excellence across the region. Key achievements included:

• Increased Enrollment: Over 1.1 million students enrolled in K-12 and alternative learning programs, with a significant increase in public school enrollment.

• Teacher Development: Over 5,000 teachers received training through the Para-Teacher Training Program and In-Service Training (INSET) initiatives, focusing on strengthening teaching skills and incorporating socio-emotional learning.

• Infrastructure Improvements: Construction and repair of over 2,300 classrooms, along with the development of water sanitation systems, electrification of schools, and the acquisition of buses, vans, and speedboats to improve accessibility.

• Contextualized and Inclusive Education: Adaptation of textbooks to reflect Bangsamoro culture and identity, implementation of the Inclusive Schools Approach (KaISA), and the development of the Bangsamoro Basic Education Curriculum Contextualization Framework.

• Sports, Health and Nutrition: The School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) provided meals to over 160,000 students, while the Home-grown School Feeding Program piloted in nine schools aims to reach 10,000 learners by 2025.

• Scholarships and Financial Assistance: The Access to Higher and Modern Education (AHME) Scholarship Program has benefited over 4,200 students, while the Bangsamoro Scholarship Program for TVET (BSPTVET) has provided scholarships to over 11,800 learners.

Despite these achievements, Iqbal acknowledged several challenges facing the Bangsamoro education system, including:

• Infrastructure and Resources: Limited access to quality infrastructure and resources, particularly in underserved and isolated communities, and a lack of resources to integrate new technologies and digital learning tools.

• Financial Constraints: Significant financial constraints in implementing national education programs due to the region's unique developmental needs and limited fiscal resources.

• Administrative Processes: Ongoing efforts to improve administrative processes, particularly in payroll management, through the rollout of the MBHTE Administrative Support System (MASS).

• Learning Gaps: The need for targeted remedial programs to address learning gaps exacerbated by the pandemic disruptions.

Iqbal outlined a path forward, emphasizing the need for sustainable education reforms, building resilience in education, and embracing innovation in learning modalities. 

He called for continued collaboration and support from the international community, development partners, and the Philippine national government to achieve a brighter future for Bangsamoro education.

The Second Bangsamoro Education Summit concluded with a renewed commitment to improving the quality of education in the region, ensuring that every Bangsamoro learner receives a quality education that empowers them to reach their full potential and contribute to a peaceful and prosperous future for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.