CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Student leaders and youth formation advocates from across Northern Mindanao gathered at the Chali Resort and Conference Center from August 11 to 14 for LearnCon LeadRight 2026, a four-day regional convergence aimed at strengthening student governance, expanding campus mental health support, and embedding child rights into student leadership.
Organized by the Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office X through its Education Support Services Division (ESSD), the event brought together 14 schools division delegations under the theme “Boses Mo, Bukas Natin.” Each delegation consisted of a Division Youth Formation Coordinator (DYFC), a Division Federation of Supreme Secondary Learner Government (DFSSLG) President, and select learner leaders.
Highlighting the critical role of student-led support systems in schools, DepEd Region X Regional Director Dr. Ruth L. Fuentes, CESO III, underscored the need for expanded safe spaces on campuses. “Peer coaching is vital in our schools,” Dr. Fuentes stated during the assembly. “I hope we can establish more Teen Centers—dedicated spaces where young people can truly interact, listen, and support one another, because students naturally open up more comfortably to their peers.”
The convergence combined strategic governance planning with learner protection frameworks through intensive project pitching, public speaking contests, and policy discussions using digital tools. Regional Youth Formation Coordinator Mell Heiston Genson noted that the dual structure was designed to bridge policy planning with learner rights advocacy. “LearnCon 2026 serves as a vital platform where our student leaders can actively plan and deliberate initiatives for the Learner Government,” Genson explained. “At the same time, the LeadRight dimension anchors these activities firmly on Learner Rights and Protection, centering all our discussions on the principles of rights-based, transformative leadership.”
Throughout the four-day gathering, learner delegates developed actionable, community-tailored project proposals to address campus safety, learner protection, and student welfare for implementation in their respective divisions. Regional Federated Supreme Secondary Learner Government President Kim Mahinay rallied his fellow student officers to approach their governance roles with genuine commitment and compassion. “Ang ating tunay na puhunan ay pagmamahal—ang puso at galing ay kailangan nating ipamalas sa bawat bagay na ating ginagawa,” Mahinay shared.
By integrating rights-centered training, peer coaching initiatives, and practical governance skills, DepEd Region X aims to cultivate student leaders who actively contribute to safe, responsive, and supportive school environments throughout Northern Mindanao.
