House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro and former ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio denounced how former Department of Education Secretary Sara Duterte’s leadership has severely aggravated the country’s learning crisis, as revealed in the latest EDCOM II reports.
“The EDCOM II findings confirm what we have been saying all along – that VP Sara Duterte’s stint as DepEd Secretary was marked by gross mismanagement and neglect that worsened our education crisis,” Rep. Castro stated. “Sa halip na tugunan ang mga pangunahing suliranin ng edukasyon, ginawa pa niyang personal na piggy bank ang confidential funds ng DepEd at pinabayaan ang mga tunay na pangangailangan ng mga mag-aaral at guro.”
Castro cited the EDCOM II reports showing how under Duterte’s watch, the implementation of the MATATAG curriculum was hampered by late textbook delivery and lack of teacher training, while the classroom backlog ballooned to over 165,000. “Nawalan ng halos kalahati ng learning days ang mga estudyante dahil sa mga class suspensions at kalamidad, pero wala siyang ginawang konkretong hakbang para masolusyunan ito,” she added.
“Also under VP Duterte fifty-five percent of public schools have operated without fully designated school principals. The quantity, quality, and qualifications of school leaders are in a dismal state. Data reveal that only 45% of public schools have a designated school principal, with 12,057 schools with incorrect school head items, contrary to DepEd’s own policies,” she added
Former Rep. Tinio emphasized how Duterte’s leadership style contributed to the deterioration. “Her autocratic management style and militaristic approach to education were completely inappropriate for addressing the complex challenges facing our education system,” Tinio said. “Imbes na pakinggan ang mga guro at education stakeholders, pinili niyang gamitin ang kapangyarihan para sa kanyang personal na interes at political ambitions.”
“The EDCOM II reports validate our position that we need fundamental reforms in our education system, not just superficial changes or reliance on confidential funds,” Castro concluded.
“Kailangan nating wakasan ang ganitong uri ng pamamahala at ipaglaban ang isang makabuluhan, makabayang edukasyon para sa ating mga kabataan. Kaya hinahamon natin si Sec Angara na huwag gayahin si VP Duterte, at kagyat na makinig sa mga guro at iba pang sektor sa edukasyon para masolusyunan ang krisis sa edukasyon.
“Dapat kagyat din nyang punuan ang mga bakanteng posisyon sa mga paaralan lalo na para sa mga prinsipal at mga guro. Bakit pa ba pinatatagal ito? Panahon na para kumilos!!!”#
