THE Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will receive Aus$85 million from the Australian government as part of the benefits of the peace agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro International Liberation Front, with an endeavor to solidify the gains of peace through investments in education.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said that the Basic Education Assistance for Muslim Mindanao (BEAM) project, funded by the Australian government, is a giant leap towards a steady and continuous improvement in the quality of basic education in the ARMM.

“The success of this endeavor will mean much not only to the children of ARMM but to all Filipinos. We have started a spark; it is a spark that should reach every community, every household and every child in Muslim Mindanao. This spark will become a real beam of hope to Muslims and to all Filipinos,” Luistro said in a statement released on Thursday.

The Department of Education (DepEd) and Australian Aid (Ausaid) on Tuesday formally signed the subsidiary arrangement on BEAM project.

The project has four components: Early Childhood Education and Basic Education, School Health, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Tech Vocation for Out-of-School Youth and Alternative Deliver Model.

“This project will benefit the last, the lost and the least in the most isolated barangays in the ARMM,” Luistro said.

The project aims to improve school infrastructure, strengthen DepEd management systems, enhance teaching and learning processes by training teachers and providing quality materials, expand assistance to Madaris, improve livelihood skills and opening employment opportunities for 20,000 out-of-school youth in ARMM and provide catch-up learning opportunities for pre-school and elementary children in remote and poor communities without access to government schools.

For his part, Ausaid assistant Dir. Gen. Rod Brazier explained that BEAM is built on partnerships, which is central to the program’s success and believes that education is a key to enduring prosperity.

“Our aim is to provide a capable education system that contributes to peace and stability for a brighter future for the children of Mindanao. As a good neighbor, we want to help and you can count on us to do so for as long as it takes,” he added.

Meanwhile, ARMM OIC Gov. Mujiv Hataman stressed that if the DepEd ARMM problems are addressed, half of ARMM problems are solved.

“We want to say to our donor and government partners that you can bank on our commitment and action. Yes we can, yes we will. This is our commitment,” Hataman said.