NAGTIPUNAN, Quirino, April 3 (PIA) — National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) commissioner Atty. Percy A. Brawner assured the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) for a better education curriculum for the IPs in the coming years.

Brawner was the guest of honor during the recent commencement exercises of the Diuryong Elementary School here, the first school exclusively for the Agtas in the country.

He also expressed optimism for the establishment of a secondary schools in the area to ensure continuity of education among the Agta children.

“If we can get funding, we will expand the program in other IP areas to make education more accessible to them,” he added.

He said the Commission wants to improve the education system for the IPs by providing a curriculum that is relevant to the needs of the children.

“They (IPs) are the marginalized sectors, they lack education and other inputs to be successful in society. If they are educated, everything will follow. That is one of our strategies to help the IPs,” Brawner said.

The IP commissioner also said they will hire additional IP teachers , in conjunction with the Department of Education, so that they can provide culturally-based education to the children.

Brawner assured that the NCIP commission en banc is undertaking studies and plans to implement programs for the development of an indigenous curriculum and preservation of the cultural heritage of the IPs.