THE DEPARTMENT of Education has signed an agreement with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Secretariat to participate in the Southeast Asian Primary Learning Metrics.

The regional assessment will gauge the proficiency of Grade 5 students on math, reading and writing.

“Ang kasunduan ay nagpapahayag ng pakikilahok ng DepEd sa susunod na cycle ng SEA-PLM at nagpapatibay ng adhikain ng Kagawaran upang maipagpatuloy ang pagpapabuti ng kalidad ng edukasyon sa bansa,” DepEd said.

The signing was led by DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones and SEAMEO Secretariat Director Ethel Agnes Valenzuela.

Also in attendance were UNICEF Philippines Chief of Education Isy Faingold, UNICEF Philippines Education Officer Aki Osawa, DepEd Undersecretary for Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development Willie Cabral, and DepEd International Cooperation Office Director Margarita Consolacion Ballesteros.