Duterte to visit Brunei, Singapore in June

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) — Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said she will travel to Singapore and Brunei in June in hopes of learning best practices in education from both countries.

Duterte said the trips are part of her tenure as president of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO).

SEAMEO was established in 1965 to "promote regional cooperation in education, science and culture" in Southeast Asia.

"Hopefully, we will be able to learn from the two country's best practices in the area of education and the other SEAMEO member countries," Duterte said in her speech at a Department of Education (DepEd) event on Thursday.

No details on the exact dates or agenda of the visits have been released.

Duterte, meanwhile, disclosed that the DepEd has been meeting with Official Development Assistance (ODA) partners, who have given insights and suggestions about priority interventions and key reforms for the country’s basic education sector.

She also said local partners have expressed support for DepEd's newly launched MATATAG Agenda, which refers to the targets of the DepEd.

Among the priority interventions to support the agenda are financial programs for both personnel and learners, improved facilities and structures, digitalization, and strengthening literacy programs.

"Through the MATATAG agenda, our learners will recognize that true learning is an ongoing process and that they never stop growing and developing as individuals," Duterte said.

"They will remain committed to continuous self-improvement and self-reflection, finding ways to improve and expand their own knowledge and skills so that they can better support those around them," she added.