THE KOREAN International Coordinating Agency has turned over more children’s books to the Department of Education.

The books will be distributed to children enrolled in Last Mile schools in CALABARZON.

The DepEd’s International Cooperation Office headed by Director Margarita Consolacion Ballesteros received 10 boxes of children’s books on May 4, 2021.

The KOICA Team, composed of Baek Jiyeon, Volunteer Program Coordinator; Sheena Balinsoy, Volunteer Program Manager; and Ronnie Runtal, staff member, completed the donation of 1,000 book intended for identified Last Mile schools in Region IV-A.

Samples of the books will be reviewed by the Bureau of Curriculum Development and Bureau of Learning Resources of the Office of the Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction to ensure that these are consistent with DepEd issued learning materials.

Last Mile Schools are schools located in isolated and disadvantaged areas. These areas have less than four classrooms, with non-standard rooms, have no electricity, have multigrade classes with less than five teachers or have more than 75 percent IP learners.

The DepEd said its collaboration with KOICA may eventually lead to the drafting of a memorandum of understanding to maximize the benefits of the partnership for basic education stakeholders.

KOICA was established in 1991 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea. It aims to enhance the effectiveness of South Korea’s grant aid programs for developing countries.