Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and Bangladeshi Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, MP (Photo by OVP MPRD)

PASIG CITY, 24 November 2022 – Bangladeshi Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, MP paid a courtesy call on Vice President Sara Z. Duterte at the Department of Education (DepEd) Central Office in Pasig City.

The two education ministers shared strategies on reducing dropout rates, the digitization process in education and hybrid learning considering financial and connectivity challenges. They also discussed various pilot projects in Bangladesh, including students being able to go directly in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) after Grade 10 and the introduction of TVET in Grade 9 and Grade 10 with students learning at least one trade to ensure the employability of basic education graduates should they decide not to continue their formal studies. They further exchanged views on institutionalizing blended learning modality through enhancing information and communications technology. The Bangladesh Minister further shared their vision to become a developed country by 2041.

L-R: DepEd ICO Project Development Officer Ms. Joan Tacadena, OVP Notetaker Ms. Christine Dionela, DFA Dir. Rona Beth Goce, DepEd HEA Atty. Sunshine Fajarda, OVP Usec. Zuleika Lopez, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, Bangladeshi Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, Bangladeshi Ambassador F.M. Borhan Uddin, Dr. Md. Amzad Hossain, Mr. Abu Ali Md. Shazzad Hossain, Dr. Md. Moksed ALI, Ms. Sayma Razzaki (Photo by OVP MPRD)

Vice President Duterte and Minister Moni further discussed the need for linkages between the industry and educational institutions to bridge the gap between the expectations of the employers and jobseekers.

During the courtesy call, Vice President Duterte congratulated Bangladesh for the improvement in its education sector and its graduation from Least Developed Countries (LDC) status. She expressed her desire for the two countries to learn from each other. The Vice President also expressed her hope for peace in their respective regions so that “we could focus on our children and delivering to them a better Bangladesh, a better Philippines.”

The two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Bangladesh. In 1972, the Philippines was one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to recognize Bangladesh’s independence.