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Marcoleta hits DepEd for questionable slow implementation of education programs
Marcoleta hits DepEd for questionable slow implementation of education programs
Citing several irregularities in the implementation of the education program, Deputy Speaker and SAGIP Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta chided officials of the Department of Education for allegedly leading the educational system of the country to a “path of quandary and wilderness.”
In a lengthy privilege speech on Monday, March 15, Marcoleta aired a litany of complaints that have adversely affected learners amid the continued threat to public health and safety of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Marcoleta said the mishandling of the country’s education program has been confirmed by the low ranking of Filipino learners in student assessments conducted by the Program for International Assessment.
The PISA said Philippines ranked last in Reading among 79 countries and second to the last in both Science and Mathematics subjects.
The House official accused DepEd of circumventing the provisions of Republic Act 8047 that mandates the entry of private sector publishers to assume the function of producing or procuring books.
“Suffice it to say, that DepEd tried again to circumvent the law by printing the SLMs or modules, because they believe that technically speaking a 30-page module is not a textbook per UNESCO definition,” Marcoleta noted.
The House official also chided DepEd for issuing in 2020 memoranda, numbers 12 and 30, pertaining to amendments in the school calendar and calendar of activities.
He said the directives were “unclear “ and insufficient in detail, with the teachers “left to fend for themselves" in trying to comply.
In the disposition of 200 passenger vans to regional offices and divisions, recipients were required to attend the turn-over ceremony. They were warned that absence would cause the forfeiture of service vehicles assigned to them.
“People are asking Mr. Speaker, why DepEd bought P1.2 billion worth of science equipment for Grades 1 and 2 when there is no science subject for such grade levels in public schools,” Marcoleta stated.
Citing a Commission on Audit report, Marcoleta noted that there has been delay in the implementation of the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP), adding that the department “weakened the controls in proper safeguarding of public funds and property.” He disclosed that the DepEd Physical Report on Operations as of December 31, 2017 indicated that only 436 schools out of the 78,140 supposed recipients, were able to get hold of their computer packages.
“Mr. Speaker, the slow-paced implementation of the DCP due to delays in the procurement process and failure of suppliers to completely deliver the computer packages to 39,950 targeted recipient schools form FYs 2015 up to 2018, including lapses in the deliveries and utilization of the ICT packages in NCR, Regional Offices Nos. III, IV-A and XIII, hindered the attainment of the programs objectives of enhancing and teaching-learning process and the ICT literacy of learners and educator beneficiaries,” the House official said.