Senator Sonny Angara, who assumed leadership of the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, July 18, has been urged to continue revising the Senior High School (SHS) curriculum and advancing the agency's digitalization efforts, particularly in implementing blended or distance learning.
During an interview at the DepEd Central Office in Pasig City, Vice President and former Secretary Sara Duterte highlighted two priority programs she hopes Angara will uphold.
“Sa akin, yung priority na ituloy, which I’m sure itutuloy ni Secretary Sonny Angara kasi alam kong naiintindihan niya ang importansya nito, yung pag-review ng Senior High School curriculum, yung Grades 11 and 12, and pag-implement ng bagong curriculum to make na pagka-graduate ng bata sa Grade 12, pwede na sila dumiretso sa trabaho,” she added.
(For me, the priority programs that should be continued, which I'm confident Secretary Sonny Angara will pursue because he understands its importance, is the review of the Senior High School curriculum for Grades 11 and 12, and the implementation of a new curriculum that prepares students to transition directly into the workforce upon Grade 12 graduation).
Duterte also emphasized the necessity of continuing the DepEd Digital Education initiative "dahil kailangan talaga i-institutionalize yung blended learning or distance learning program (because it is really necessary to institutionalize the blended learning or distance learning program)."
Unfinished projects
Despite her brief tenure at DepEd, Duterte expressed no regrets about her two-year leadership of the agency.
“It is with a heavy heart that I leave the DepEd,” Duterte said. “Minahal ko itong trabaho na ito, minahal ko yung mga kasama ko sa DepEd (I loved this job, I loved my colleagues at DepEd),” she added.
Duterte formally handed over the leadership of DepEd to Senator Sonny Angara in a simple ceremony.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/18/angara-assumes-dep-ed-top-post-pays-tribute-to-vp-duterte-at-turnover
While Duterte voiced satisfaction with her role in the education department, she expressed regret over being unable to complete certain programs and projects initiated during her tenure.
“Meron talaga akong regrets, gusto ko talaga tapusin kung ano man yung dapat na deliverables ng Marcos administration mula sa DepEd,” she added.
Apart from the DepEd Digital Education and SHS curriculum review, Duterte also highlighted some "unfinished business" at DepEd during her speech at the turnover ceremony.
These included establishing the Matatag Center and the Matatag Portal and implementing the Universal School-Based Feeding Program for kindergarten learners.
Other pending projects she mentioned involved securing overtime pay for teachers, establishing a Calamity Fund for teaching and non-teaching personnel, and providing HMO or health insurance for all education personnel.
“Nais kong ipaubaya ito sa ating susunod na Kalihim ng Kagawaran (I want to entrust this to our next Secretary of the Department),” Duterte said.