Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte gave a piece of advice for school children who have classmates who are unable to read. Vice President Sara Duterte interacts with grade school students of Tagumpay Elementary School during her visit in Pola, Oriental Mindoro on Tuesday, April 25. (OVP photo)
During her visit to the Tagumpay Elementary School in Pola, Oriental Mindoro, Duterte said young learners should teach non-readers in their class instead of heckling them. “Dapat ‘yung mga hindi pa marunong magbasa, huwag nating awayin, huwag nating kantyawan, huwag nating pagtawanan. Dapat yung mga hindi pa marunong magbasa, dapat nating turuan. Kailangan natin tulungan (We should not tease those who can read and laugh at them. We should teach those who are unable to read. We have to help them),” she told the young learners. The Vice President underscored the importance of promoting reading literacy among children for better communication and self-development. During her interaction with them, she also encouraged the learners to hold on to their dream profession — motivating them to pursue their dreams through education. The official urged them to have goals, so they have something that they’ll want to work hard for. “Lahat ng pagsisikap natin sa loob ng classroom, papunta sya doon sa gusto nating gawin (All of our hardwork inside the classroom should be aimed toward what we want to do),” she said. In her Facebook post, she cited a Department of Education (DepEd) report that said the schools are among those registered with high instances of absences because of the recent oil spill. The oil spill was brought about by the sinking of MT Princess Empress, which carried 800,000 tons of industrial fuel oil, off the coast of Naujan town last Feb. 28. While she was in the province, she also visited the Leandro Panganiban Sr.–Tagumpay High School, where she listened to the concerns and issues laid down by the school faculty through their principal. Among the concerns and issues raised by High School Head Christopher Llave were the teachers’ challenges in skills development areas, campus internet connectivity, learning facilities, and the struggle of learners living far from the campus to attend daily classes. Duterte responded that there were many factors beyond their control. “Within our control is to innovate at gumawa ng paraan para makapagpatuloy sila sa pag-aaral (find ways for them to continue their studies),” the Vice President suggested. So far, some 16 out of 400 learners already dropped out. Meanwhile, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) also assisted the parents of students affected by the oil spill through a partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). A total of 289 beneficiaries from four oil spill-affected barangays received P20,216 each.