Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

Bukidnon teacher Junmerth Jorta among the top 50 finalists of 2025 Global Teacher Prize

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News Intern

<p>MANILA, Philippines — Junmerth Jorta, a public-school teacher in Bukidnon, has earned a spot in the Top 50 finalists for the 2025 GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize.</p><p>Jorta, who also received the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Teacher in 2022, was celebrated for his dedication that started in a remote indigenous community in Sitio Balugo, Kalagangan in San Fernando, Bukidnon, seeing his role as a calling rather than just a job.</p><p>“I want to continue doing my best for the countless IP [indigenous people] children, helping them prepare at their early age, for them to have the highest possible chances of becoming successful in the near future,” said Junmerth.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/5/27/more-than-half-of-indigenous-peoples-see-selves-as-poor-world-bank-1436">More than half of Indigenous Peoples see themselves as &#x27;poor&#x27;, says the World Bank</a></div><p>In an ABS-CBN News interview, Junmerth shared the challenges he faced when he began teaching in 2015.</p><p>From the lack of electricity, water supply, sanitation facilities, and access to television or radio-based instruction, he was determined to bring change and serve the community.</p><p>He collaborated with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local government units (LGUs), and private organizations, convinced that it was his duty to connect with the right stakeholders, providing essential resources and support for the learners.</p><div><strong>Balugo Pagkaon Sakto Program</strong></div><p>This program emerged from the harsh reality that numerous students of Junmerth come to school feeling hungry. He launched this daily hunger-free lunch initiative to address malnutrition, improve attendance, and enhance learning outcomes.</p><p>Supported by partnerships with NGOs such as HapagAsa Foundation, the municipal mayor’s office, and the Department of Agriculture, the program has been operating successfully for seven years now.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/6/1/ngo-gets-surplus-food-from-restaurants-hotels-to-feed-the-poor-1622">NGO gets surplus food from restaurants, hotels to feed the poor</a></div><p>This effort has not only curbed absenteeism and dropouts but also encouraged students to engage actively in class. </p><p>“A well-nourished child is more attentive and ready to learn, proving that you truly cannot teach a hungry child,” said Jorta.</p><div><strong>Basa Balugo Program</strong></div><p>To address literacy challenges, Jorta developed a special reading program for non-readers. By teaching in the students’ first language, he established a strong foundation for comprehension and confidence. </p><p>Through this collaborative approach, he created contextualized and indigenized reading materials embedded with effective strategies, which students could bring home for practice. </p><p>Regular home visits further supported struggling students, with older siblings and parents urged to participate in their development. This approach ensured that students received continuous learning support beyond the classroom.</p><div><strong>Special Class Program</strong></div><p>However, poverty and resource deficiencies were not the sole difficulties that Jorta encountered.</p><p>“Early marriage, including arranged marriages, caused many learners to drop out, dashing their dreams. To address this, I established a special class program for married learners, enabling them to continue their education,” he explained.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/10/12/20/senate-approves-on-second-reading-bill-declaring-child-marriage-as-illegal">Senate approves on second reading bill declaring child marriage as illegal</a></div><p>Over a span of six years, ten indigenous students completed elementary education, with four currently in secondary education and six preparing for placement exams.</p><p>Jorta also shared that Willie Ilagan Batawan, one of their students at Keupiyanan Te Balugo, became the first degree holder — a Bachelor&#x27;s in Elementary Education — in their community in 2024.</p><div><strong>Okay sa Balugo Program</strong></div><p>Jorta also organized another program to strengthen the school’s resources through partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. </p><p>“Together, we secured funding for additional classrooms, chairs, a stage, and toilets,” he said.</p><p>Private donors contributed school supplies, health kits, and even internet connectivity, ensuring access to online learning tools. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, they implemented radio-based teaching, thereby further securing the continuity of education.</p><p>Beyond education, Jorta also advocated improvements in infrastructure, which included a farm-to-market road project, ensuring initial funding support to address transportation issues within their community. </p><p>“Though only part of the road is completed, I remain hopeful for further support under the new administration,” he said.</p><p>Over the course of almost eight years, Jorta has witnessed and encountered the community&#x27;s struggles. Through resilience and working with the community, he has strived to uplift the lives of the students and families in Sitio Balugo, proving that education is a powerful catalyst for change.</p><p>These innovations through collaborative efforts reflect on his commitment to address issues through community-driven solutions, fostering an inclusive and thriving learning environment for his community.</p><p>“To all educators worldwide, most especially to those teaching in remote and underserved communities, our work is more than just a profession; it is a lifeline of hope and opportunity,” Junmerth added.</p><p>The Global Teacher Prize is an annual award of US$1 million presented by the Varkey Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to a teacher who has made a significant impact in the field.</p>

<p>Junmerth Jorta, a public-school teacher in Bukidnon, has earned a spot in the Top 50 finalists for the 2025 GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize.</p>

Junmerth Jorta, a public-school teacher in Bukidnon, has earned a spot in the Top 50 finalists for the 2025 GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize.

Bukidnon teacher Junmerth Jorta among the top 50 finalists of 2025 Global Teacher Prize

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Bukidnon teacher Junmerth Jorta among the top 50 finalists of 2025 Global Teacher Prize

ABS-CBN News Intern,

Ronnie Crispo Jr.

Published February 09, 2025 08:08 AM PHT

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