PCIJ tops 2007 SEAMEO press awards

KUALA Lumpur, Malaysia — For the first time in seven years, the Philippines won the top prize in the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO)-Australia Press Awards.

Launched in 2000, the award from SEAMEO recognizes “excellent coverage of education issues by journalists in Southeast Asia.” SEAMEO is an international organization designed to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture in the region.

For the 2007 competition, PCIJ’s former head of research and writer Vinia Datinguinoo-Mukherjee won the first prize for the article, “Muslim Classes Come Alive.” The report, which was part of the PCIJ’s i Report series on Literature and Literacy in June, featured current efforts in standardizing Muslim education in public elementary schools and in private madaris.

Datinguinoo-Mukherjee traveled to Bukidnon to attend Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) classes in Malaybalay’s biggest elementary school. She wrote that these “Islamic-friendly” schools are seen to contribute to “the eradication of separatist sentiments,” fostering better relations between Muslim and non-Muslim students.

Her report was cited for “its well-researched, interesting take on the issue of tolerance, with focus on the root cause and solutions to problems, and provides a good grasp of the nuances of issues related to identity, values and culture — issues that are very relevant to many countries in Southeast Asia.”

During the awarding ceremonies held last week at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Australian Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations Deputy Secretary Dr. Wendie Jarvie said the article “was chosen for its presentation of religious and cultural tolerance at this time when sensitivity to people’s beliefs and cultures is crucial to strengthening unity within society.”

Four other PCIJ writers made it to the finalists’ list: PCIJ Multimedia Desk Head Alecks P. Pabico (“Waste Not, Want Not“); PCIJ writer/researcher Isa Lorenzo (“A Feminine Challenge“); and PCIJ fellows Prime Sarmiento (“What’s Swimming in your Soup?“) and Rorie Fajardo (“Still Strangers in their Own Land“).

Only 12 articles were included in the short list, after two pre-screening sessions by the education counselor of the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, the SEAMEO Secretariat director, and three Bangkok-based journalists.

Given annually, SEAMEO has so far honored seven print journalists who had written “outstanding pieces on education issues.” Last year’s theme was “Reporting on Education for Sustainable Development.”

The first prize covers a three-week travel to Australia and a journalism internship with The Age newspaper in Melbourne.