DepEd to designate SICs
By MARIA LOTA B. ENGRESO
Pinamanculan Elementary School
West Butuan District II
The Department of Education (DepEd) fully recognizes the importance of School Information Coordinators (SICs) in ensuring that communications convergence are coordinated and strengthened from the schools to the national level.
DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones issued Memorandum No. 17, s. 2021 titled Designation of SICs. An SIC shall be designated in every public elementary, secondary, and senior high school nationwide as counterparts of the Division and Regional Information Officers.
The designated SICs shall be tasked to:
a. Assist and act as focal persons in verifying and addressing issues and concerns raised by the public and the media involving their school or area;
b. Facilitate the conduct of verification of information based on protocols, data privacy, integrity and confidentiality;
c. Facilitate the communication of any untoward incidents in their respective areas, and submit a detailed report within 24 hours to DepEd Central Office (CO) Public Affairs Service (PAS) copy furnished their respective regional and schools division offices;
d. Provide updates to the schools division, region or CO that may be referred to in media releases to national media;
e. Support their respective schools, schools division, and regional offices in responding to media queries on local issues;
f. Coordinate with the schools division, regional or CO to request for official statements on existing issues;
g. Perform duties and responsibilities related to DepEd Public Affairs programs, projects, and activities; and
h. Perform other tasks related to the efficient communication, documentation and dissemination of information to DepEd CO and vice versa.
Also, the designated SICs should be:
* Holding a teaching or non-teaching position in the school;
* At least two or three years employed in DepEd;
* Able to communicate and write well, and have good public relations skills; and
* Able to respond to issues and concerns requested by the schools division, regional, Of the Central Office.
Based on Secretary Briones Memorandum, the designation of a teacher to perform as SIC shall be recommended by the school head to the Schools Division Superintendent for approval. ###
