ILOILO City – The Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 has launched a regionwide initiative that formally brings parents and guardians into kindergarten classrooms as active learning partners, marking a major shift in early childhood education for School Year 2026-2027.
Dubbed “Program PaG-UBAY” (Parents and Guardians Upholding Bayanihan to Assist the Young), the initiative aims to institutionalize family participation in schools by encouraging parents and guardians to work alongside kindergarten teachers in classroom activities, preparation of learning materials, and the promotion of children’s health and hygiene.
The program, whose name is derived from the Hiligaynon word meaning “to guide” or “to be alongside”, underscores DepEd-6’s push to strengthen the partnership among families, schools, and communities during a child’s formative years. It is anchored on DepEd Regional Memorandum No. 1153, series of 2025.
DepEd-6 said the initiative recognizes that parents are not merely supporters of education but essential co-educators whose active participation contributes to children’s academic, social, and emotional development.
Under the program, volunteers will assist teachers in daily classroom activities, help prepare instructional materials, and support efforts to create a safe, healthy, and nurturing learning environment for kindergarten pupils.
Guided by the Filipino values of Bayanihan and pakigbahin or shared responsibility, PaG-UBAY seeks to establish a stronger support system linking homes, schools, and communities to improve school readiness and encourage greater participation in learning activities.
DepEd-6 said the program includes organized systems for recruiting, selecting, orienting, scheduling, and deploying parent volunteers while ensuring full compliance with child protection policies.
Beyond classroom assistance, the initiative is also expected to strengthen communication and collaboration between parents, teachers, and school communities while fostering volunteerism in support of early childhood education.
The program is now being rolled out in kindergarten classes throughout Western Visayas, with education officials expressing confidence that stronger family involvement will help build a solid foundation for lifelong learning.
“The DepEd Division Superintendents, School Division Chiefs, School Heads, Supervisors, teachers, parents, and guardians are enjoined to support and implement the program PaG-UBAY,” DepEd-6 stated./PN
