SM Supermalls through the SM Cares Program on Youth and Children’s Welfare and Educational Committee recently hosted Department of Education’s (DepEd) Go! Education Interactive Exhibit Kickoff Tour at The Block in SM North Edsa. This event is in partnership with the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine Business for Education (PBED). The interactive exhibit themed “Go! Education Program” informs the public about K+12’s enhanced curriculum and program objectives. The word “GO” stands for “Greater Opportunities” in education.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said: “With the Go! Education interactive exhibit and road shows in SM Supermalls, the public will easily understand how our Go! Education program can help provide solutions to increase the competency of our public school teachers, improve our  basic education curriculum to be at par with global standards and build more classrooms and other learning facilities with the help of both public and private partners. I know that some people are still skeptical about the K+12 Basic Education Program, but with small steps, we believe that we will be able to move toward greater opportunities through a reformed educational system in our country.”

The exhibit will also hold a series of road shows in other SM malls to disseminate K+12 program benefits and importance in the curriculum of public schools nationwide. Go! Education road shows will be held at SM Davao on August 25 and 26; SM Cebu, September 22 and 23; SM Manila, October 6 and 7; SM Iloilo, October 20 and 21; SM Bacoor, November 3 and 4; SM Pampanga, November 17 and 18; and SM Mall of Asia, February 2013.

The Go! Education program engages SM mall goers in an interactive overview of the new K+12 program and the Philippine education system by systematically tackling major areas of concern—teaching competency, curriculum improvement, infrastructure development and proposing solutions that will help elevate the state of Philippine education.

The Philippines is the only remaining country in Asia and one of the three countries in the world with a 10-year basic education cycle.

In Photo: Luistro (seated, third from right) together with partners from the SM Supermalls and supporters from the government and private sector, during the GO! Education Interactive exhibit launch at SM North Edsa.