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COTABATO CITY — On November 19-20, 2025, the Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) headed by Education Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal conducted a symposium with its long-standing partner, the Australian Government’s Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao (Pathways) program.
Together, they presented and reflected on achievements and lessons learned from their joint focus on K–3 education since 2017.
The two-day symposium aimed to identify challenges, opportunities, and innovative solutions, and to support forward planning and costing so resources are allocated where they are most needed.
In his video message, Minister Iqbal underscored the Ministry’s commitment to moral governance and accountability. He highlighted how MBHTE, together with its partners and in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), has strengthened K-3 learning, improved data and planning systems, enhanced teacher development, and advanced the integration of madrasah education.
These reforms, he stressed, are “building blocks of moral governance,” helping ensure that no Bangsamoro learner is left behind and that education remains a bridge from conflict to stability and from poverty to opportunity.
“Our success depends on strong partnerships – within MBHTE, with our fellow BARMM ministries, local governments, teachers, parents, and our trusted partners such as Australia and DepEd. Their consistent support has helped us turn plans into actions and challenges into opportunities,” he said.
MBHTE’s Directorate General for Madaris Education (DGME) is under the leadership of Prof. Tahir Gandawali Nalg.
MBHTE and partners strengthen literacy instruction, teacher capacity
Meanwhile, the MBHTE proudly joins the nation in celebrating National Book Week (24 to 28 November), recognizing the vital role of books in shaping young minds and strengthening a culture of learning across the Bangsamoro.
Books open doors to knowledge, imagination, and opportunity, therefore helping build peaceful, inclusive, and resilient communities. Guided by our commitment that no Bangsamoro learner is left behind, the Ministry continues to expand access to quality, contextually grounded, and culturally relevant learning resources.
With the support of the Australian Government through the Pathways Program, we are strengthening literacy instruction, enhancing teacher capacity, and increasing the availability of age-appropriate materials, especially for marginalized, isolated, and conflict-affected schools.
For this year’s National Book Week, we honor our teachers, parents, community partners, and learners who continue to inspire a love for reading and learning across the Bangsamoro region.
The Bangsamoro region, established in 2018 by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), is made up of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, as well as the Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) 63 barangays or villages — now eight new municipalities — that voted “Yes” in a plebiscite in February 2019 to be under the BARMM jurisdiction.
According to the Philippine Atlas BARMM has 4,404,288 people. It has 116 municipalities: Basilan, 11 municipalities; Lanao del Sur, 39; undivided Maguindanao, 36; Sulu, 19; and Tawi-Tawi, 11. Its component cities are Cotabato (the regional center and capital) in Maguindanao; Lamitan in Basilan; and Marawi in Lanao del Sur. (✓)