Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Feature: "Making Positive Change Happen in ARMM Education"


Atty. Maisara C. Dandamun-Latiph, Chevening Alumna (SY 2007) wrote a blog in celebration of UN Public Service Day on 23 June.

My being a lawyer is not an accident, it was a dream come true. I later became a government lawyer at the Office of the Solicitor General. As State Solicitor my function largely involved defending and protecting public interest. These demand drafting pleadings and appearing in appellate courts. I have taken much pride in my work as a Solicitor with the values of integrity in advancing public interests.

While lawyering is my profession, my passion is education. Being an educator had never been a dream; I discovered my passion just ten years ago when I and other friends established an Elementary School in an under privileged community in Quiapo, Manila.

"Lately, I was fortunate to pursue my passion. In January 2012, my husband persuaded me to join and support the 16-month transition government of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which seeks to reform the governance in the region. He had confidence in me that I am capable of making greater impact in ARMM’s education sector. It was a challenge and a very difficult decision to make. My passion prevailed and I became part of the Reform Team of Department of Education-ARMM.

I became a part of a team responsible for nearly a million children and supervising 22,000 teachers in a region situated in a conflict area. For the first time in ARMM, I was able to launch National Qualifying Exams for School Heads for more than 2,000 principals, capability-training for District Supervisors, implemented fully the K+12 Program, and implement an open and functional Personnel and Selection Board based purely on merit and fitness.

My experience in the University of Manchester as a Chevening Scholar has deepened my ideas on public service and strengthened my values of integrity and excellence. Studying there with exposure to education institutions, its policy, its management and its leadership together with the degree of Masters in School Improvement and Leadership had given me valuable wisdom and knowledge in my current position in ARMM. It taught me that leadership matters in a fragile region in ARMM, my experience is that, in educational sector, no one will follow you out of rhetoric..."

Read her full blog by visiting the Flickr page: http://bit.ly/135UmS0

"Moral Governance"

English - "Good governance for a progressive and peaceful BARMM."

Sinama - "Hap pamarinta tudju BARMM na sambu maka salamat"

Bahasa Sug - "Dan mabuntul tudju pa BARMM masambu iban mahatul"

Meranaw - "Mathitu a kandatu sa BARMM ko katagompiya go kalilintad"

Slogan

"Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE)"