NEW JERSEY, USA — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. highlighted the importance of supporting Filipino teachers and not scrimping on funds for the youth's education as the future of the country lies on them.
Marcos said this during his meeting with the members of the Filipino community here on Sunday evening, September 18 (New Jersey time).
In his speech, the President said Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has been working on improving the country's education system so the Filipino youth would be prepared wherever they venture into the world.
Marcos said this was why the government needed to take care of the students as they are the future.
"Our children must be equipped with the best that we can possibly provide. We cannot scrimp on the amount," he said.
"Lahat ng maaari nating ibigay sa kanila, ibibigay natin sa kanila (We should give whatever we can give to them) so that they get the best quality of education that we can afford without being wasteful," he added.
President Marcos said his administration would give the teachers whatever they needed to provide Filipino students with quality education.
"We will provide teachers the materials necessary for effective teaching in this day and age," he said.
He acknowledged that teachers and learners need more than workbooks and school supplies such as pencils and paper. He said they need internet connectivity and speedy devices.
"Pero gagawin po natin ‘yan dahil hindi po tayo makapag-compete, hindi po tayo makipagsabayan sa mga iba’t ibang bansa kung hindi po natin gawin ‘yan. At ito’y parang naghahabol pa lang tayo (We will do that because we can't compete with other countries if we don't. We must catch up)," Marcos said.
The President likewise reiterated that the Philippines must do better in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
"We must do better in international rankings, especially when it comes to the so-called STEM subject. This is necessary for our young people to be able to compete in this highly technological and competitive world," he said.
Marcos earlier said that he had ordered Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to improve the STEM curriculum to develop a youth adept in sciences.
He reckoned that developing the country's STEM education is essential, primarily because the economy relies on technology.
"We need the talent. That is one of the major areas that our DepEd is going to be looking at and how to strengthen the instruction for our children and our students," the President said.
During his visit to Singapore early this month, President Marcos and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong were looking forward to renewing the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on innovations in teaching and learning STEM.
The MOU was signed in 2019 between the Department of Education of the Philippines, Nanyang Polytechnic International, and Temasek Foundation.
The agreement aimed to better equip students from both countries to tap into new opportunities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.