NO CABINET POST. Outgoing Education Secretary, Vice President Sara Duterte (left), presents the DepEd logo to incoming Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara during the turnover of the Department of Education's leadership held at its central office in Pasig City on Thursday (July 18, 2024). Duterte said she would no longer hold any cabinet post after resigning as education chief. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)
MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday formally turned over the helm of the Department of Education (DepEd) to new Secretary, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara.
The transition ceremony was held at the DepEd Central Office in Pasig City, a day before Duterte’s resignation takes effect on Friday.
Undersecretary and spokesperson Michael Poa, Undersecretary for Administration Nolasco Mempin, Assistant Secretary Sunshine Fajarda, Assistant Secretary for Procurement Reynold Munsayac, and Assistant Secretary for Administration Noel Baluyan also resigned their posts.
In a media interview, Duterte hoped that Angara would continue the curriculum review and the institutionalization of alternative delivery modes (ADM), among other priority agenda for the education sector.
“Alam ko naiintindihan niya ang importansya nito iyong pag-review ng Senior High School (SHS) curriculum, iyong Grades 11 and 12 at pag-implement ng bagong curriculum to make sure na pag-graduate ng mga bata sa Grade 12 ay pwede na silang dumiretso sa trabaho (I know he understands the importance of the SHS curriculum review, the Grades 11 and 12 and the implementation of a new curriculum to make sure that once the Grade 12 learners graduate, they can be immediately hired),” she said.
Angara, meanwhile, vowed to uphold the welfare of learners and teachers while sustaining critical programs launched by his predecessor.
"Ang trabaho niyo ang magsisilbing matatag na pundasyon sa mga programa at proyekto na aming isusulong (Your works will serve as our strong foundation for the programs and projects we plan to push). We will build from what you have already started," he said in a speech during the turnover ceremony.
"We want to hit the ground running and we want to learn from all of you here as we go along," he added.
Besides the curriculum review and ADM institutionalization, Duterte urged Angara to focus on other programs that remain undelivered including the “overtime pay of teachers, a universal school-based feeding program for Kindergarten learners, calamity fund for teaching and non-teaching personnel, HMO or health insurance for teaching and non-teaching personnel, and other key areas of MATATAG curriculum launching including MATATAG Center and portal.”
The MATATAG Curriculum, which was piloted in September 2023, targets to decongest the curriculum and resolve misplaced learning competencies from Kinder to Grade 10.
MATATAG stands for “Make the curriculum relevant to produce job-ready, Active and responsible citizens; TAke steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education services and provision facilities; TAke good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusiveness learning, and positive learning environment; and, Give support for teachers to teach better.”
2-year accomplishments
Duterte, meanwhile, cited DepEd’s accomplishments for the last two years under her leadership including the MATATAG Agenda rollout, the pilot launch of the K-10 MATATAG curriculum, the start of SHS curriculum review, and the return of in-person classes for the post-Covid-19 pandemic, benefiting around 27 million learners.
The DepEd also entered into an agreement with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Higher Education, and Department of Labor and Employment for the free national certification assessments of SHS graduates, as well as pushed for procurement reforms resulting in textbooks and e-learning cart purchases for public schools nationwide.
For teachers and non-teaching personnel, Duterte said the DepEd has issued a policy to provide mechanism for their workload and overtime pay, removed their administrative tasks, institutionalized a 30-day break, entered into a pact with the Commission on Elections and the Public Attorney’s Office to give legal aid to teachers during elections, as well as the Government Service and Insurance System for DepEd special lanes and premium contributions, and cooperated with the World Bank to conduct a study for teachers’ salary.
Other key projects include the DepEd Mental Health Program, the Learner Rights and Protection Office, and the Telesafe hotline for abuses in schools, among others. (PNA)
