THE Department of Education (DepEd) has recognized the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) as one of its dedicated partners, specifically for its implementation of the School-Plus-Home Gardens Program (S+HGP).
SEARCA was cited during the DepEd Partners' Appreciation and Recognition at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Financial Center on February 20. Over 170 attendees representing DepEd partners, including research institutions, nongovernmental organizations, local government units and private entities, joined the event.
SEARCA's recognition stemmed from its steadfast support and significant contribution to DepEd's mission of providing quality basic education to Filipino learners.
The S+HGP implementation enhanced schools' feeding programs and integrated climate-smart agriculture concepts into the lesson plans of Grade 4 and 7 teachers. These efforts aim to develop agricultural strategies that promote sustainable food security in the face of climate change challenges.
SEARCA Center Director Glenn Gregorio accepted the appreciation plaque from Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
In the Philippines, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), which is SEARCA's mother organization, is represented by the DepEd secretary. SEARCA is hosted by the Philippine government, with DepEd as its focal agency.
Piloted in Laguna province, Gregorio said the S+HGP used school gardens as practical learning tools to enrich the nutrition, education and economic well-being of students.
He said the program also expanded the connection between gardening and feeding by facilitating the creation of food gardens in the homes of school children.
"The S+HGP model was successfully adopted by more than a hundred schools and continuously spread among elementary and secondary schools," he said.
SEARCA and DepEd have since scaled out S+HGP to Rizal province with entrepreneurship infused in the original model and Busuanga, Palawan, with the added dimension of biodiversity enhancement and enterprise.
"As in the original model, training courses — but now in blended mode — have been conducted to educate principals and teachers as well as facilitate knowledge sharing on the establishment of school and home gardens and integrate the key concepts of agriculture and food in lesson plans or school curricula," Gregorio said.
In her message during the event, Duterte thanked DepEd's partners for helping provide Filipino teachers with the skills needed to deliver suitable and effective teaching strategies through training sessions, webinars and scholarships.
"To our partners, thank you for your unending support that complements our goals and aspirations for the Philippine basic education. May you continue investing in the dreams of the Filipino children, as they will soon be part of our workforce that will contribute to the development of our nation," Duterte said.
