RG Mujiv Hataman accepts challenge of BEAM-ARMM

We accept the challenge of the Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM-ARMM). When we came to ARMM early this year, this program was up for NEDA ICC approval and we gladly accepted the challenge of getting this program approved. I recall how Dr Balisacan of NEDA, Bro Luistro of DepEd Central and I, were able to convince President Noynoy Aquino about the merit of this program. It is also worth-noting that in the 23 years existence of DepEd-ARMM, it is only now and through this program that DepEd-ARMM was directly involved in program design, development and approval.

Today, we sign the Subsidiary Arrangement and launch BEAM-ARMM, considered the largest single donor investment in education in this part of the country. BEAM-ARMM manifests our commitment to education reform. We said that if the DepEd-ARMM problems are addressed, half of the ARMM problems are resolved, simply because ARMM educates more than half a million of its constituency and employs more 21,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel.

For the past ten (10) months we have engaged ourselves in ghost-busting activities going after ghost schools, teachers and enrolment. We have identified and closed ghost schools. We identified and deleted ghost teachers from the payroll. We have monitored schools and ghost enrolment has been reduced by more than 60,000. We are addressing the issue of data integrity squarely.

We want to say to our donor partner AusAID, implementing partners (UNICEF/BDA, GIZ/Fit for School, BRAC and CARDNO), and government partners like DepEd Central, NEDA, DBM, MinDA and LGUs, you can bank on our commitment and action. We have adopted a regional policy on Open Governance and this we will infuse into the BEAM-ARMM program by way of:

• Our program processes being more transparent and above board. 
• DepEd-ARMM being more accountable in terms of what is expected of us. 
• We will be at the forefront of advocating for efficiency so that the maximum return to our beneficiaries is assured. 
• We will be inclusive and eager to work with partners to insure the best outcome and impact for our program. 

BEAM-ARMM comes at a time when we are in the midst of a transition from ARMM to the new Bangsamoro political entity. We are optimistic that BEAM-ARMM will play a crucial role in bridging the transition to a Bangsamoro system of education attuned to the challenges of the 21st century as well as reflective of our unique heritage and regional milieu:

• Through UNICEF/BDA, we will support Islamic Kindergarten (Tahderiyyah)/Early Childhood Education in conflict-affected areas. 
• Through GIZ/Fit for School, we recognize the importance of personal health and its impact on learning and child development. 
• Through BRAC ADM, we recognize that there will be pockets of communities where the usual school-based intervention will not work for them, therefore alternative delivery modalities will have to be explored. 
• Through CARDNO, we have interventions to help narrow the gap in school infrastructures, as well as interventions for professional development of our teachers and school heads. We will have additional madaris implementing the ulama-developed and DepEd-prescribed madrasah curriculum. We will have contribution to technology and livelihood education at secondary level. 
• BEAM-ARMM will also support systems improvement in DepEd-ARMM. 

We realized that the greater challenge with ARMM education is not a question of resource gap. More than the infrastructures, trainings and materials, we are convinced BEAM-ARMM plays a critical role in changing the mindset of our workforce. We are thrust into the position of power and influence to make a difference in the lives of our people. Public service is not a livelihood, but an opportunity to serve.

We thank the AusAID and BEAM-ARMM implementing partners for joining the reform wagon and braving the challenge of education access, quality and delivery in a fragile environment that is ARMM. Together we have the capacity, we have the mindset, and we have the heart to make a difference in the lives of ARMM constituency. Yes, we can! Yes we will! This is our commitment.