Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao

Today we commemorate the 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. This reminds us that inclusive education comes to life through educators, classmates, and communities who commit to creating spaces where every learner is welcomed and valued.

This National Book Week, we proudly honor our teachers, parents, community partners, and learners who continue to inspire a love for reading and lifelong learning throughout the region.

With support from the Australian Government through the Pathways Program, we are strengthening literacy instruction, enhancing teacher capacity, and increasing the availability of age-appropriate materials, especially in marginalized, isolated, and conflict-affected schools.

MBHTE and the Australian Government, through the Pathways program, held a Policy and Planning Symposium on November 19–20 to review progress since 2017 and identify challenges, opportunities, and solutions for improving early years education.

Happy World Children’s Day!

Stronger data is helping MBHTE ensure every Bangsamoro child is seen and supported.

Thanks to the Bangsamoro Child Finding Tool (BCFT) and the Inclusive and Supportive Center for Learning (ISCL) model, children were referred for medical care and enrolled in school through flexible, supported learning. In 2025, over 206,000 children were screened for functional difficulties during early registration, helping ensure no Bangsamoro child is left behind.

“Teacher training empowers us to meet the needs of our learners, especially those in AKAP learning centres,” says Abdulrizal Aripin, Education Program Supervisor at MBHTE’s Schools Division Office in Tawi-Tawi.

To help address this learning crisis, the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), with support from the Australian Government, has rolled out a series of teacher training programs across public schools, madaris, and Abot-Kaalaman sa Pamilyang Bangsamoro (AKAP) learning centers in BARMM. These trainings are more than professional development for teachers and school leaders, they are acts of hope.

𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬
𝘛𝘪𝘱 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘚𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘯 𝘚 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘣𝘯 𝘚𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘢 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘉𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘢 𝘋𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘨, 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘪 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺.

“I always begin with a question whenever I start my lesson,” says Teacher Samanodin S. Cali. He believes that sparking curiosity early helps engage learners’ minds and encourages deeper thinking.
His tip? Use questions that prompt reflection on real-world scenarios and relatable everyday experiences. These help learners build reasoning and problem-solving skills.
“Don’t forget to praise your students’ efforts to answer, not just the correct ones,”
he adds. Encouragement will build their confidence.

Teacher Samanodin’s approach reminds us that critical thinking isn’t just taught, it has to be nurtured through curiosity, relevance and positive reinforcement.

For National Teachers' Month, MBHTE and the Australian Government, through the Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao (Pathways) program, are sharing top tips from teachers across BARMM.

Pathways focuses on early years education as the foundation for lifelong learning and development, while also contributing to peacebuilding by promoting inclusive reform and addressing inequity in education delivery.

As part of its support, Pathways is helping build the capacity of teachers by facilitating Learning Action Cell (LAC) sessions, enabling trained educators to share what works, from classroom strategies to inclusive school practices.





DepEd Philippines Australia in The Philippines Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao

𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬
𝘛𝘪𝘱 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘔𝘢𝘥𝘻𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘯 𝘜𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘺𝘢 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘬𝘶𝘭, 𝘚𝘶𝘭𝘶

“Traditionally, we just use books and write on the blackboard when doing our lessons. But there are more ways to make your lessons interesting,” says Madzralyn Usman.

To bring her classroom to life, she uses digital storytelling, like videos from Isla Maganda, to capture her students’ attention and spark curiosity. Since introducing visual tools, she’s seen more hands go up and more learners participating in discussions.

These videos, she says, are powerful supplements. They activate not just visual and auditory skills, but emotional engagement too, making learning deeper and more interactive.

Teacher Madzralyn’s approach reminds us: when we teach through multiple senses, more children connect, contribute, and remember.

For National Teachers' Month, MBHTE and the Australian Government, through the Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao (Pathways) program, are sharing top tips from teachers across BARMM.

Pathways focuses on early years education as the foundation for lifelong learning and development, while also contributing to peacebuilding by promoting inclusive reform and addressing inequity in education delivery.

As part of its support, Pathways is helping build the capacity of teachers by facilitating Learning Action Cell (LAC) sessions, enabling trained educators to share what works, from classroom strategies to inclusive school practices.





DepEd Philippines Australia in The Philippines Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
𝘛𝘪𝘱 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘫𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘏. 𝘈𝘬𝘢𝘴, 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘩 𝘈𝘭-𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘺𝘢𝘩 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘦, 𝘚𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘒𝘶𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵, 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘰

“Teach with the whole body, not just the brain,” says Teacher Norjanna H. Akas. She believes children learn best through action, not just by listening.

Her tip? Make learning active. Turn your classroom into a space for movement and discovery. Use games to ask questions. Encourage learners to move, to engage, to participate physically and playfully.

Even a small activity or friendly race can make a lesson stick. A lively classroom isn’t just more fun; it makes learning more meaningful.

Teacher Norjanna’s approach reminds us: learning deepens when children are fully engaged through mind, body, and spirit.

For National Teachers' Month, MBHTE and the Australian Government, through the Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao (Pathways) program, are sharing top tips from teachers across BARMM.

Pathways focus on early years education as the foundation for lifelong learning and development, while also contributing to peacebuilding by promoting inclusive reform and addressing inequity in education delivery.

As part of this work, Pathways supports Isla Maganda, BARMM’s first animated and audio series integrating foundational skills, peace education, and Bangsamoro values, now reaching over 90,000 children and 2,600 teachers across the region.





DepEd Philippines Australia in The Philippines Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao

As we commence National Teachers’ Month, MBHTE and the Australian Government, through the Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao (Pathways) program, are sharing top tips from teachers across BARMM.

Pathways focuses on early years education as the foundation for lifelong learning and development, while also contributing to peacebuilding by promoting inclusive reform and addressing inequity in education delivery.

As part of its support, Pathways is helping build the capacity of teachers by facilitating Learning Action Cell (LAC) sessions, enabling trained educators to share what works, from classroom strategies to inclusive school practices.

𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬: 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝘛𝘪𝘱 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦 𝘚. 𝘛𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘰, 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘧 𝘈𝘸𝘭𝘪𝘺𝘢 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺
𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘶 𝘖𝘥𝘪𝘯 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘵, 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘰

Norhanie S. Tiago believes that great storytelling begins with feeling.

“Make the stories relatable to children and simplify complex ideas,” she says. She encourages teachers to lead with emotion. Whether you’re telling a tale of triumph or challenge, bring your characters to life. Let them laugh, cry, and grow, just like your learners.

“It is essential to humanize the characters,” she adds, as building emotional connections sparks curiosity, fosters rapport, and makes learning more memorable.

Teacher Norhanie’s approach reminds us: it’s not just about the lesson; it’s about how you make children feel as they learn.

As we celebrate the National Teachers' Month, MBHTE and the Australian Government, through the Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao (Pathways) program, are highlighting top tips from teachers across BARMM.

Pathways focuses on early years education as the foundation for lifelong learning and development, while also contributing to peacebuilding by promoting inclusive reform and addressing inequity in education delivery.

As part of its support, Pathways is helping build the capacity of teachers by facilitating Learning Action Cell (LAC) sessions, enabling trained educators to share what works—from classroom strategies to inclusive school practices.





Australia in The PhilippinesaDepEd PhilippinesuEducation Pathways to Peace in Mindanaopines Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao

💙💙💙

This International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Australia celebrates the rights of First Nations peoples of the world and their vital role as stewards of natural and cultural diversity.

In the Philippines, we support Indigenous communities like the Teduray in the BARMM through education — training teachers to develop 📚 learning materials that promote their culture, identity, and languages. Australia also provides technical assistance to local government in shaping the region’s education.

Together, we’re helping ensure Indigenous voices, knowledge and traditions thrive for generations to come.

We are honored to be part of this video from the Australian Embassy in the Philippines. Pathways focuses on K-3 education which lays the foundation for lifelong learning and plays a vital role in contributing to peace through inclusive and equitable reforms.

Australia is proud to be a trusted partner to the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Hear from 🇦🇺 Ambassador to the 🇵🇭 HK Yu on how our partnership is delivering real results – from climate and trade to education and security. Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected region.