• However, these schools cannot cater to the large number of IP students, especially in Bukidnon. Thus, they have no choice but to go to any existing public or private schools wherein they face an entirely new culture. • In the process, they experience difficulties in all levels (personally, culturally and academically). Some of which are: • Difficulty in adjusting to new environment; • Pressure in coping with new demands and lifestyles; • Loss of identity and culture in the modern world; • Need to balance culture and diversity with development; • Marginalization; • Threat of influences of/clash with western society and modern technology. • In response to the above-mentioned problems, it was recommended that the IPs should have a say in coming up with their own educational system that should include basic problems and challenges they continually face in their community like peace and order, insecurity and threat to their survival, values systems, poverty and environmental degradation. Special Features of the Program: • General Knowledge – It includes Languages, Mathematics, Environmental and Social Sciences, and other fields which foster creativity, critical analysis and responsible judgment.
• Leadership Values Formation – IP core values system is the foundation for the Lumad self-renewal and social transformation towards building a community of faith, justice and love. • Socio-cultural and Political Development • Socio-political matters which raise people’s consciousness leading to cooperation, solidarity, and collective effort in achieving their common goals. • Technical Skills Development • Consist of community organizing, cooperative development, rural health, para-legal, agriculture, reforestation, managing resources, food processing, animal husbandry, wood works, handicrafts and other related fields needed for the people’s total development. Components: 1. Formal and Alternative Education 2. Environmental and Resource Management 3. Research and Documentation on IP Life and Culture 4. Capability Building Organizational Partners and Roles: 1. DepEd – co-lead 2. Assisi Dev’t Foundation – co-lead 3. Pamulaan – co-lead 4. The Eight Tribes of Bukidnon – Council of Elders/Advisers After the Unity Statement was finalized, guest speakers were acknowledged and invited to speak.
Keynote Address
Ms. Trisha Gray
First Secretary, Australian Embassy
Representatives from civil society organizations, community members, leaders and elders Colleagues from universities and from DepEd, schools, teachers, students, parents
Day 4: Celebrating of Commitments
And of course our youth leaders. Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. My name is Trisha Gray, First Secretary at the Australian Embassy working for the Australian Aid Program.
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