U.S., DepEd launch course on futures thinking for education

The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) recently to launch a training program on co-creating learning spaces for the future.

The Leaders in Futures of Education (LIFE) course will teach teachers and administrators how to collaboratively design and plan for innovative future learning spaces that will maximize children’s language and literacy.  After the course, participants will develop local prototypes of future learning spaces.

“We are taking this challenge even beyond this administration,” said former Education Undersecretary Atty. Nepomuceno Malaluan.  “Within the overall framework of DepEd’s long-term goal for the Basic Education Development Plan 2030, the goal of enhancing the capabilities of our education leaders and movers remains relevant especially within and beyond crisis and uncertain futures.”

Fifty school leaders and teachers from the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Tuguegarao enrolled in the LIFE course.

Through its All Children Reading Philippines project, USAID aims to improve early grade reading skills for 100 million children by supporting DepEd.

“I hope that this course will help our education partners gain the necessary tools and insights that will help you come up with innovative ways to design and create a better education for the future,” said USAID Philippines Acting Education Director Yvette Malcioln.

The United States government has been a key development champion in the Philippines for over 60 years, working with individuals, communities, and the government to improve everyday lives.