Put into practice what you have learned

"DepEd must have managers who are strategists and visionaries and who can provide the momentum to sustain our education reform agenda," said Education Secretary Jesli Lapus as he addressed some 113 DepEd midlevel managers who finished the Management Leadership Development Training under the auspices of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

"Put into practice what you have learned. As lead learners, you must model the change you wish to see in the workplace. We expect so much from you," he stressed.

The midlevel managers from DepEd central and regional offices underwent a 43-day training which was conducted by the Meralco Management and Leadership
Development Center (MMLDC) Foundation Inc. for the Philippines Australia Human Resource Development Facility (PAHRDF) and DepEd.

This capacity development is a direct response of the PAHRDF to the DepEd's effort to hasten the integration of the Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda
(BESRA) into the DepEd organizational culture.

Lapus explained, "Our core competence can only be as strong as the skill that each member of this organization possesses. This is why we are investing in
the retooling of our people. "

BESRA is a package of policy reforms that aims to put in place an education system that is able to deliver a sustainable quality education for all Filipino
children.

Participants were trained to demonstrate improved appreciation of their roles and apply innovative leadership techniques to help nurture and develop staff
competencies.

The first part, held in August-September 2008, was a 7-day residential training entitled "BESRA and Me." The participants were grouped into four batches to
achieve a high level of management training.

The managers also received 35 days of Executive Coaching from October-November 2008. PAHRDF fielded several coaches to provide face to face coaching for the participants in their respective workplace for the implementation of
their Leadership Action Plan.

Lapus commended participants for their hard work and dedication to achieve the target outcomes of this training despite competing priorities in the office.

"As mid-level managers, you have the energy, the capability and the competence to influence the transformation we seek," he said.

The Australian Government, one of the country's largest bilateral grant donors, has earmarked some A$30 million (approximately P1.03 billion) to DepEd in
2008 giving it a wider financial berth to pursue its BESRA.

PIA Press Release
2008/12/19