ILOILO – The Department of Education (DepEd), in partnership with the Iloilo provincial government, launched two educational modules under the “Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya” (BES Probins) program aimed at empowering the youth through career guidance and responsible voting.
DepEd secretary Juan Edgardo Angara led the launching ceremony held on Friday morning, December 13, at Casa Real de Iloilo.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. spearheaded the provincial government’s presentation of the “Career Guidance Instructional Module (CGIM) and Voter’s Education Instructional Module (VEIM), which are designed to align students’ aspirations with the nation’s development goals and foster informed participation in the electoral process.
The CGIM provides secondary students with the tools to select careers based on the country’s labor requirements, incorporating lessons on national and local development plans. This module is envisioned to help students understand the direction of the government and the economy, ensuring that they are equipped to meet workforce demands upon graduation.
Meanwhile, the VEIM aims to cultivate a well-informed electorate capable of meaningful and intelligent participation in national elections.
Defensor emphasized the importance of instilling nationalism and responsible citizenship in students through these initiatives.
“We want the output of our public school system to match the human resource needs of the government, economy, and industry,” said Defensor. “By guiding students in career choices and teaching them about the country’s direction, we ensure they become valuable contributors to society and secure jobs post-graduation.”
The CGIM aligns with Republic Act 11206, or the Career Guidance and Counseling Act, which Defensor authored during his tenure as congressman of Iloilo’s 3rd District.
Defensor expressed gratitude to Angara for sponsoring the Senate counterpart of the law.
The development of these modules was a collaborative effort involving the DepEd Schools Division of Iloilo and the University of the Philippines Visayas.
Defensor highlighted the broader goals of the BES Probins program, which seeks to create a transformative educational system in Iloilo. This includes infrastructure support, facility upgrades, and operational assistance for public schools.
“We aim to contribute to the creation of an intelligent human resource and an electorate capable of making informed decisions,” Defensor said./PN
