Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones asked Sunday, Aug. 15, youth organizations to contribute to national development especially during this challenging time of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
She made the call during the “Youth Talks: Rising Above and Beyond the Global Pandemic” forum on Sunday afternoon, as part of the 22nd International Youth Day celebration.
“These days we encourage youth organizations to contribute to national development as much as they can,” she said in her message.
“They are not just hope or the future of the fatherland and the motherland, they are also participants, contributors and citizens of the motherland not only in the future, but also at present.”
She expressed elation over the youth’s active involvement in participatory governance.
“We are also very happy that our youth organizations not only in other countries, not only in our Asian region, but also right here in the Philippines, are listened to. Our student councils are encouraged to speak up and say what they feel education should be. This is exemplified by the organisation, by the stakeholders’ group , the solidarity which we call ACCESs wherein student organisations tell or share with administrators, with teachers, and with the national government their views on how education should be delivered and what teaching and education should contain.”
As part of the celebration of the International Youth Day, the Department of Education (DepEd)-International Cooperation Office (ICO), in partnership with the National Youth Commission (NYC), Global Teachers Prize Ambassadors’ Philippines (GTPA PH), and EmpowerED held the youth forum.