Department of Education Secretary, Leonor Magtolis – Briones spearheaded the launching of the Sulong EduKalidad: Addressing the Challenge of Quality in Basic Education Campaign in support to the agency’s goal to raise the quality of basic education in the country in December 2019.  
The initiative surged as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results revealed that the country was placed last among 79 participating countries and near last in Science and Mathematics.  
Briones underscored the four key areas which are represented by the four quadrants of the KITE, which symbolizes the Filipino spirit and the dreams of the learners to fly high through quality basic education.  

“The government investment in education has yielded positive returns, particularly in increasing access to basic education,” the secretary pointed out.  
However, the biggest challenge that the basic education is facing today is quality --- particularly in the learning outcomes of the learners.  
Meanwhile, Regional Director Isabelita Borres emphasized the need to address the National Achievement Test results which likewise reported as low proficiency.  

“We are in the pressing challenge to shift to quality of our education system here in the region,” RD Borres declared before the participants of the ISO Certification Awarding Ceremony last December 2019 at Manuel’s Resort, Piňan, Zamboanga del Norte.  
She catapulted the need to establish a correlation between the teachers’ pedagogical skills and (Continue page 3)  the principals’ instructional leadership.  

Notwithstanding the challenges in the facilities and equipment in schools, Sec. Briones is cognizant in responding  to challenges of the Sulong EduKalidad campaign namely: (1) K to 12 Curriculum review and update; (2) improving the learning environment; (3) teachers’ upskilling and reskilling; and (4) engagement of stakeholders for support and collaboration (KITE).  
Moreover, in the agency’s push for collaboration, the integral contribution of the stakeholders is seen as fundamental and relevant. Teachers are expected to cascade their learning from various trainings and upscaling to their respective learners. Principals are encouraged to leverage on the school academic performance. “It is time for us to reflect on the PISA report and shift our paradigms to ensuring quality education above all,” Briones called for a bandwagon of positive change.