DAVAO CITY — Ministers of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, local educational institutions, and educators were all present at the first ever BARMM Education Summit, which was recently held at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang.

The gathering of key stakeholders was organized to discuss ways to use education as a means of promoting peace and regional development.

Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education chief Mohager Iqbal and the rest of the ministry led the proceedings at the event. All the attendees contributed to focused, intensive and inclusive consultations on continuing education and grassroots development for the education sector in the region.

Iqbal, in his State of the Education Address emphasized that "education is a pillar of nation-building."

"It can help society sustainably and logically sustain and overcome significant impediments — poverty, injustice, corruption, and conflict," the Education Minister said.

He also read a message from Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte, which highlighted the role of education in post-conflict reconstruction and in sustaining the gains of peace.

"We counteract violent extremism by nurturing among our children and youth the values of inclusion, tolerance, conflict resolution, and non-violence," the Vice President said.

"Let us work together to reshape the future of BARMM by strengthening our education system, filling the learning gaps caused by the pandemic and instituting a culture of peace curriculum to ensure a successful post-conflict reconstruction," she added.