After stating that he was having difficulty finding a new Education Secretary, a group of teachers on Saturday, June 29, urged President Marcos to consider current and past officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) for the position.

While not advocating for the selection of any specific individual, particularly those from its organization or allied groups, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) suggested that Marcos might find a suitable candidate among the current or past officials of the DepEd.

“Ang gusto natin na maging DepEd Secretary ay hindi pulitiko. Hindi na dapat ikonsidera ang pagpili ng isa na namang politiko dito sa DepEd (We want the next DepEd Secretary to not be a politician. The consideration of another politician for this role in DepEd should no longer be),” said TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas.

“Ang gusto natin na maging DepEd Secretary ay kilala at may karanasan sa pagma-manage ng education sector (We want the next DepEd Secretary to be well-known and experienced in managing the education sector),” Basas said. “Ang gusto natin na maging DepEd Secretary ay may pusong guro at naging guro (We want the next DepEd Secretary to have a heart for teaching and to have been a teacher),” he added.

More importantly, Basas noted that the new DepEd Secretary should primarily advocate for the welfare, rights, and dignity of teachers by supporting, promoting, and formulating relevant policies for them.

““[Sa mga] incumbent DepEd officials and past DepEd officials, meron at marami po tayo niyan (Among incumbent DepEd officials and past DepEd officials, we have many),” Basas said.

Prioritizing teachers’ welfare

As the public awaits Marcos’ announcement of the next DepEd Secretary, TDC reiterated the importance of considering the teachers’ criteria in the selection process.

For TDC, the foremost priority is to appoint a “non-political figure” to succeed Vice President Sara Duterte, who resigned as DepEd Secretary on June 19.

Her resignation will be effective on July 19, less than two weeks before classes for the upcoming school year (SY) 2024-2025 start on July 29.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/22/sy-2024-2025-starts-on-july-29-ends-on-april-15-dep-ed

“First, we insist that the new secretary should not be a politician or actively involved in partisan politics,” TDC said in a statement issued June 28.

This, the group said, is “crucial to keeping the DepEd free from political conflicts and ensuring that its focus remains on educational advancement rather than divisive politics or electoral considerations.”

Moreover, TDC said the next DepEd Secretary should have the necessary management skills.

“The DepEd, being the largest bureaucracy in the country, requires a leader who has knowledge and experience in management and can oversee its extensive operations,” TDC said.

The group pointed out that the new secretary will “confront complex challenges, manage extensive resources, implement policies” affecting some 47,000 schools and one million personnel, and initiate reforms that will impact the entire educational sector.

“Lastly, we want to emphasize the importance of appointing someone from the academe with experience in public school teaching,” TDC said.

Such a background, the group said, ensures that the new secretary has firsthand experience with the daily challenges faced by teachers and students, providing a “deeper understanding and empathy” for their situations.

“The new secretary should have a teacher's heart,” TDC said.

For TDC, these three criteria will guarantee the appointment of an individual who will champion policies that uphold the rights, welfare, and dignity of teachers.

“We believe it is important to foster a caring educational system where teachers feel more protected, which would eventually boost their morale and even motivate them to do the job better,” the group said.

Despite its preference for candidates with these qualifications, TDC clarified that it is “not advocating” for the selection of any specific individual.

“However, we know some of the current and past DepEd officials who meet these criteria and are capable of fulfilling these responsibilities,” TDC said.

Meanwhile, TDC maintained that regardless of who the President appoints, it will continue to engage with DepEd to improve the country’s education system.

“Our focus remains on advocating for better policies for teachers, the single most important factor in education,” the group said.

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