An alliance of student councils and organizations nationwide urged Senator and newly appointed Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara on Thursday, July 4, to prioritize the future of Filipino students under his leadership.
"Do not disappoint Filipino students," the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP) told Angara.
In a statement, SCAP alleged that the outgoing DepEd Secretary, Vice President Sara Duterte, left the state of education in the Philippines in "rubble" due to incompetence. "The pressure now weighs on the newly appointed Education Secretary, given the current educational challenges faced by the country," it added.
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https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/2/what-teachers-expect-from-new-dep-ed-secretary-sonny-angara
Even before assuming the post on July 19, SCAP said Filipino students were already questioning whether the new secretary could "rectify the problems" left by his predecessor.
"We emphasize that the nation's future hinges on revitalizing the education sector," SCAP said.
"In the aftermath of the previous secretary's controversial tenure, marked by setbacks and widespread dissatisfaction, there is an urgent call for decisive leadership and student-centered policies," the group added.
Addressing the education crisis
SCAP pointed out that the education crisis in the Philippines has reached "alarming levels" with the latest results showing Filipino students ranking second lowest among 64 countries in the creative thinking test of the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
"The challenges and fractured system seem daunting to mend, but Filipino students expect Senator Angara, the new DepEd Secretary, to prioritize the future of Filipino youth and rebuild confidence in the nation's education system," SCAP said.
The group added that fulfilling the hopes of Filipino students involves "solving the education crisis and revitalizing the education system."
SCAP said this can be achieved by increasing the budget for the education sector, championing transparency, participation, and accountability (TPA) measures, improving the quality of the curriculum, recognizing SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) and protecting safe spaces in schools, ensuring genuine student representation, and upholding the rights and welfare of students and teachers.
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