Council Secretariat by law has 5 Million peso a year funding which is more than enough to fund whatever initiatives they wish to undertake within its own timeframe. The Post thinks that strategically, UNICEF is better off approaching the policy influencing at the sector level (i.e. through DSWD, DepEd) rather than at the ECCD Secretarial level and to push for the creation of an interagency Technical Working Group (TWG) that can be a venue for experts to discuss priority issues that needs to be brought forward to the ECCD Governing Board for action. The Post in general agrees with the recommendations put forward by the Independent Progress Review Team. DFAT will ensure that the recommendations are considered in the work plan of UNICEF and will monitor its accomplishments on a monthly basis. The recommendations are critical activities that will ensure sustainability of the good practices and innovations that have been developed through the program. DFAT’s response to specific recommendations made in the report Recommendation Response Actions Responsibility Harmonization of the two sets of curriculum for children 3-4 y/o (ECCDC and DSWD) Monitor the progress of UNICEF’s work towards the adoption of one standard curriculum by December 2015. DFAT-PO Alignment of existing parenting education programs i.e PES, FDS and Family Support Program of the ECCDC Agree. Consistency in the messaging regardless of the venue and the office delivering the advocacy is important. Monitor the progress of the discussions between UNICEF, DSWD and ECCD Secretariat on the proposed harmonization which UNICEF committed to establish by 3rq Quarter of the 2015. DFAT-PO Further alignment of all aspects of ECCD leading to seamless, continuous, and developmentally appropriate curriculum and pedagogy for children aged 3-8 (SNPs, DCCs/CDCs, Kinder, Grade 1-3) Agree. This is where better coordination is required at national level e.g. currently materials are in mother tongue the day care modules are in English. Same training on contextualization should be done for day care. Monitor the progress of the discussion between UNICEF, DSWD and DepEd on the alignment of standard curriculum for 3-4 y/o with Kinder-Grade 1 curricula DFAT-PO Finalization and adoption of the competency standards for ECCD workers Agree Monitor the progress of the discussions on the adoption of the competency standards for ECCD workers. DFAT-PO
Clarification of the roles and responsibilities of the DSWD and the ECCD Council Secretariat in the accreditation of DCCs/CDCs and DCWs/CDWs Monitor the Adoption of the policy on Registration and Granting of Permit and Recognition to Public and Private Child Development Centers/Learning Centers Offering Early Childhood Programs for 0-4 y/o Filipino children, including specific roles and responsibilities of DSWD, DepED and ECCDC Secretariat. DFAT-PO Finalization and adoption of the ECCD Communication Plan/Strategy Agree Monitor the adoption of the ECCD Communication Strategy. DFAT-PO The clarification on the use of mother tongue (MT) policy for kindergartens and DCCs Agree Monitor the development of training modules/session guides re use of MT in day care sessions initiated (for use in local training/mentoring of DCW/SNP workers DFAT-PO Policies need to be strengthened and more carefully implemented to ensure inclusion of all young children in ECCD programs Agree Monitor the progress of the documentation of modelling of link between ECCD and Primary Education in focus areas. DFAT-PO Mechanisms to ensure consistency in the content and implementation of tools being used for child assessment (ECCD Checklist and SReYa) Monitor the adoption of policy on the hand-over of ECCD Checklist from DCWs/SNP workers to Kinder teachers Monitor the progress of the Documentation of modelling of link between ECCD and Primary Education in focus areas initiated. This will include the process of handing-over the ECCD checklist from DCW/SNP worker to Kinder teachers. DFAT-PO
Coordination Mechanisms At the national level - establishment of a TWG on ECCD with clear roles and functions on how it relates to the Board and the ECCD Council Secretariat At the local level – setting up/strengthening of the ECCD under the LCPC (ECCDC in close partnership with the DILG) Agree Monitor the creation of ECCD Technical Working Group by participating in at least one meeting. Monitor the development and approval a Resolution that establishes the implementation mechanisms for creating ECCD Committees that will serve as venue for planning and monitoring ECCD activities at the municipal level. Monitor the implementation of the communications plan which provides the strategy for national and local level advocacy for increased investment in ECCD at local government level and the development of national policies supportive of the implementation of quality ECCD services. DFAT-PO Actions need to be taken to ensure that ongoing activities in regard to the production and provision of materials and resources, pre-service and in-service training, and personnel services are sustainable both financially and politically Monitor the implementation of the ECCD Communications Plan geared towards advocating for an increased investment for ECCD by the government units covered by the Project. Monitor UNICEFs implementation of local mechanisms that will allow continuous training of ECCD workers and teachers using the training modules/ session guides and prototype training materials developed by the Project and partner agencies. DFAT-PO