OFFICIALS of the Department of Education and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Innotech met recently to discuss studies that would help the department address educational issues.

“These studies will be an important input to form important policies that will help the future projects of DepEd,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.

SEAMEO Innotech presented policy studies on teachers’ motivation, early childhood care and multi-grade schools.

The first study aims to provide recommendations toward improving teacher motivation in the basic education system.

On the other hand, the research on early childhood care focuses on understanding children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development in different contexts. Lastly, the study on multigrade schools aims to identify the contributing and constraining factors in achieving the Multigrade Program goals in Philippine education.

Those who attended the discussion were Briones, her undersecretaries, Human Resources and Organizational Development Director Jennifer Lopez, and Center Director Ramon Bacani. Director for Programs Philip Purnell represented SEAMEO Innotech while Dr. Teresita Inciong attended as one of the research papers’ key proponents.

The Center expressed continued support to the Education department to provide relevant policy advice through research.

“We really wanted to make sure that what we are studying really reflects the conditions in the field,” Bacani said.