President Marcos has challenged new Education Secretary Sonny Angara to ensure that the quality of education in the country improves as soon as possible.
"Our national learning recovery program must proceed without the slightest disruption, especially in basic education," Marcos said in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22.
"Our system of education must be strategically calibrated to make sure that our youth are not only taught to become literate. But, it must also consciously develop them into problem-solvers, and into critical thinkers — hungry for success and ready for the future!," he added.
Marcos directed Angara to make this possible, including the efforts to address the classroom gap.
"Ito ngayon ang magiging hamon sa ating bagong Kalihim: na tiyakin ang pagbangon at pagtaas ng kalidad ng edukasyon sa bansa, sa lalong madaling panahon (This is now the challenge for our new secretary: to ensure the recovery and the improvement of the quality of education as soon as possible)," Marcos said.
The President also said that the digital gap must also "be bridged with equal intensity."
"We are working towards the day when all students will be equipped with computers, smart TVs, essential programs, digital books — and once again, access to reliable power and the Internet," he said.
No more 'utang-tagging'
In his speech, Marcos recognized that the "quality of our education rests on the quality of our teachers."
"Teachers are not just perfunctory figures in our schools; they are the very foundation of our educational system," he said.
The Chief Executive reiterated that the government must ensure that teachers are protected and taken care of so that they can focus on teaching their students.
"Wala na ring “Utang-Tagging” sa mga teachers. Hindi magiging hadlang ang kanilang pagkaka-utang upang makapag-renew ng kanilang mga lisensya (There will be no more utang-tagging. Their debts will not get in their way in renewing their licenses)," he said, citing the “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo” Act.
He also emphasized the need to uplift and upskill teachers.
Marcos said that the government has allocated funds to finally implement the expanded career progression system for public school teachers which will promote professional development and career advancement within their ranks.
"Sa sistemang ito, wala nang public school teacher ang magre-retire na Teacher 1 lamang (With this system, there will be no school teacher who will retire with a Teacher 1 rank)," he said.