A few days before the polls, the top education leaders of the country renewed the call supporting the candidacies of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan for president and vice president, respectively,

In a show of force to reiterate the education sector’s unequivocal support for tandem, university presidents and school heads came together in a video released by the group “Schools for Leni-Kiko.”

Hands-on leaders

Citing the worsening education crisis and the challenges faced by many schools and students due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the country’s top education leaders underscored the need for a “hands-on” leader to confront the pressing needs of the education sector.

Among those who have expressed their support include Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Roberto C. Yap, SJ; De La Salle University President Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC; Adamson University president Fr. Marcelo V. Manimtim, C.M.; Technological Institute of the Philippines president Dr. Elizabeth Quirino-Lahoz; University of Baguio president Engr. Javier Bautista and PHINMA Education president and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Chito B. Salazar.

In their statement, the group lauded Robredo’s plans for education --- echoing commitments she made in various fora during the campaign.

These include raising the budget for education to 6 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unburdening teachers from administrative work, expanding access to education through scholarships and voucher programs, and ensuring that there are jobs for all graduates.

Apart from her competence in effectively steering the Office of Vice President during the Covid-19 pandemic, the education leaders also highlighted Robredo’s focus on “the poor, her unquestionable integrity, and her consistent defense of the truth.”

“We take this stand consistent with our responsibility to ensure that academic institutions serve as safe spaces for discussion and truth-telling while reminding our fellow educational leaders how our schools and universities served as bastions of truth during the years of the dictatorship,” the group said.

The said video reinforced the previous statement of support released by over a hundred university leaders in March of this year.

Unprecedented campaign season

With over 40 schools and more than 15,000 students, faculty, staff, and alumni supporting Robredo and Pangilinan, this campaign season can be considered “unprecedented” for bringing together previously conservative or apolitical groups to take a strong position supporting specific candidates.

Among the schools that have earlier expressed support to the tandem include De La Salle Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, Adamson University, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines Los Banos, University of San Beda, Silliman University, University of the Assumption, Centro Escolar University - Malolos, Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran, Marist School Marikina, Philippine Science High School System, Holy Angel University, PHINMA Education, University of San Agustin, Xavier School, Ateneo de Iloilo - Santa Maria Catholic School.

These schools and their leaders found a commonality in shared advocacy to address the “widening learning gap that separates Filipino students and the rest of the world.”

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