VP Duterte wants stop to Philippine education’s ‘further deterioration’

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Thursday emphasized the need to avert the further deterioration of Philippine education, saying that the next two to three years will be a critical period for the reforms to the education system under her leadership. 

“Our collective mission…is to ensure that we are able to avert the further deterioration of the Philippine education system. If we are able to do this successfully, we will be able to save the future of our children and the future of the Philippines,” she said at an event held in Davao City.

Citing the goal of the “MATATAG” agenda launched during her presentation of the Basic Education Report 2023 on January 30, she said that new ways are needed to resolve the challenges faced in delivering basic education to the learners even after the pandemic.

“We also need to acknowledge the systemic problems within the institution. Problems that have contributed to the learning difficulties hounding our children,” Duterte added.

She further called on people in authority and responsibility to exert hard work that could “spark the fire" that will inspire children to work harder to achieve their dreams.

“Kung kalahati lang ibibigay natin sa ating mga learners bilang mga taong may awtoridad at responsibilidad para sila ay matuto o maging edukado, patuloy tayong aani ng mga batang Pilipino na hirap sa larangan ng edukasyon. At kung kalahati lang din ang ibibigay ng mga learners sa kanilang pag-aaral, maaasahan na natin kung ano ang kanilang magiging kinabukasan at ang kinabukasan ng bayan,” she said.

(If we only give half of our efforts to our learners for them to learn or become educated, we will remain producing Filipino children who are struggling in the field of education. And if the learners give only half efforts to their education, we could already expect what their and the country’s future will be.) — BM, GMA Integrated News