Agreement signed for better higher education in Bangsamoro areas

THE BANGSAMORO Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the national government signed an agreement on Wednesday to improve access to higher education, especially in conflict-affected areas.

The memorandum of understanding, outlining a 10-point agenda, was signed by BARMM Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education Mohagher Iqbal, Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairman J. Prospero E. De Vera III, and Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. of the Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

Under the partnership, CHED will provide financial assistance to students and technical support to BARMM’s higher education institutions, Mr. Galvez said during the signing ceremony held in Quezon City.

Mr. Iqbal stressed the role of education in countering violence and promoting reconciliation and unity.

“We aim to produce at least one professional in a family in the Bangsamoro…The 10-point agreements in the MOU emphasizes the significance of education in peace-building,” Mr. Iqbal said.

Mr. De Vera, for his part, said funding has already been allocated for the BARMM programs under the CHED’s 2020 budget.

“I saw how important and vital this potential partnership will be in making sure that education will be the anchor of development to push forward peace and development in the region,” he said.

During an initial meeting with BARMM last April, CHED also committed to tap various universities to help in the Bangsamoro, including the following: Mindanao State University’s Iligan and Naawan campuses; University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños, Manila, and Diliman; and Ateneo de Davao.