CHED Officials Discuss the K-12 Transition Program with PE Madrid

Philippine Embassy in Madrid Officers with CHED Officials. L-R: Director Lily Freida Milla, Program Director Karol Mark Yee, Minister and Consul General Emmanuel Fernandez, Commissioner Minella Alarcon, First Secretary and Consul Gerardo Abiog and First Secretary and Consul Mary Luck Hicarte.

Philippine Embassy in Madrid Officers with CHED Officials. L-R: Director Lily Freida Milla, Program Director Karol Mark Yee, Minister and Consul General Emmanuel Fernandez, Commissioner Minella Alarcon, First Secretary and Consul Gerardo Abiog and First Secretary and Consul Mary Luck Hicarte.

A delegation from the Commission on Higher Education headed by Commissioner Minella C. Alarcon briefed officials of the Philippine Embassy in Madrid on the K-12 Transition Program on 12 September 2016.  Together with Commissioner Alarcon were Atty. Lily Freida Milla, Director of International Affairs and Mr. Karol Mark Yee, Program Director of the K to 12 Transition Project Management Unit.

Commissioner Alarcon explained that the five-year period from 2016 and 2021, referred to as the K-12 Transition Period, will see the twin-challenge of low enrolment levels in Philippine universities and lower income for both universities and their personnel.  However, this period also presents an unprecedented and unique opportunity for professional advancement for Philippine university faculty and staff.

According Mr. Yee, the Philippine Government, through the K-12 Transition Program, is investing in improving the quality of higher education by providing affected teachers with scholarships in the Philippines and abroad.  CHED is eyeing Spanish universities for their masteral and doctoral studies.  It is also looking at promoting increased institutional partnerships between Philippine and Spanish universities.

On 13 September, Atty. Lily Freida Milla and First Secretary and Consul Mary Luck Hicarte met with officials of the Spanish Service for the Internationalization of Education and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation to discuss study opportunities for Filipino teachers.