The Department of Education (DepEd) together with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced its plans to use its Special Education Fund (SEF) as released in the Joint Circular No. 2, Series of 2020 which is to “widen the use of the Special Education Fund (SEF) to further assist schools this year”, December 4,2020.
The SEF arises from the additional one percent (1 %) tax on real property and is allotted by the Local Government Code to the local school boards (www.senate.gov.ph). This is allocated for the operation and maintenance of public schools; construction and repair of school buildings, facilities and equipment; educational research; purchase of books and periodicals; and sports and development in amounts determined by the local school boards themselves.
“We thank our DILG and DBM for embodying our whole-of-government approach and heeding our call to support education amidst the pandemic. This Joint Circular is a significant step in our efforts to ensure that learning opportunities will still be available despite the situation,” said Education Secretary Leonor Briones.
Through the circular no. 2, Series of 2020, the SEF can pay the expenses from the production of Deped approved self-learning materials.
According to the Deped secretary, the approval use of SEF would be very helpful in assisting public school teachers as well as parents. Authorized offices such as Local Government Units (LGU) and Division Offices can also purchase necessary equipment necessary for the distant learning scheme.
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Photo credits: Pinterest,DILG and DBM
