AIM-SEELL, DepEd launch leadership program to drive literacy reform and policy innovation
Manila, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd), through its National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP), has partnered with the Asian Institute of Management – School of Executive Education and Lifelong Learning (AIM-SEELL) to roll out a flagship leadership program aimed at strengthening policy and reform capabilities across the education sector.
At the center of the collaboration is the Postgraduate Certificate in Literacy Reform and Education Policy Leadership, a specialized program designed for DepEd executives, division chiefs, and senior field leaders. The initiative forms part of DepEd’s broader strategy to build reform-ready leaders who can address persistent challenges in literacy and education governance.
The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing led by DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara. Joining him in the signing were DepEd Undersecretary for Operations Malcolm Garma, NEAP Director III Michael Joseph Cabauatan, and AIM School of Executive Education & Lifelong Learning Head Albert Mateo Jr., underscoring a shared commitment to strengthening leadership capacity across the education system.
The four-week postgraduate program is expected to engage around 30 to 35 senior officials, equipping them with advanced competencies in strategic leadership, systems thinking, and evidence-based policymaking.
Anchored on DepEd’s current reform agenda, the program integrates global benchmarks with localized case applications to ensure that learning remains both internationally informed and contextually relevant. It is structured to develop leaders who can navigate complex education systems, anticipate future challenges, and design data-driven solutions to improve learning outcomes.
Education leaders participating in the program will undergo intensive training that emphasizes futures thinking and policy innovation—critical capabilities identified as necessary to respond to long-standing literacy gaps and systemic inefficiencies in the sector.
The partnership with AIM-SEELL reflects a shift toward more targeted and high-impact professional development within DepEd, aligning leadership training with national education priorities. By investing in executive-level capability building, the department aims to strengthen decision-making at the highest levels of governance and accelerate the implementation of reforms across the system.
This initiative is part of DepEd’s continuing efforts to professionalize its leadership corps and promote a culture of continuous learning, recognizing that strong leadership is a key driver in improving education outcomes nationwide.
As the program moves forward, both institutions underscore the importance of equipping education leaders not only with technical expertise, but also with the strategic foresight and policy acumen needed to lead meaningful and lasting reforms in Philippine education.
