Barry Atty. Barry Gutierrez

CRISIS SITUATION

December 10, 2023 People's Journal 313 views

THE Philippines education system is allegedly in bad shape, and the person who should be addressing this seems to be preoccupied with matters outside her jurisdiction.

This was the statement made by former Akbayan Party-list Representative Barry Gutierrez, who chided Vice President Sara Duterte – concurrent Education Secretary – for meddling in things she should not when she should be focusing on the problems of the education system in the country.

“Maraming problema ang kinakaharap ng sektor ng edukasyon ng ating bansa, mula sa kakulangan sa guro, imprastraktura at learning materials hanggang sa effectivity ng curriculum ng pampublikong paaralan,” Gutierrez said.

“Base sa ulat ng World Bank nitong 2023, 9 out of 10 sa mga Pilipinong mag-aaral sa edad ng sampung taong gulang ay kulang ang kakayahan sa pagbabasa. Patunay ito na nasa isang matinding education crisis ang ating bansa,” he added.

Gutierrez specifically criticized Duterte’s meddling in the issue of the country’s re-entry to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and her statement criticizing President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s decision to restart the peace negotiations with communist rebels.

“It’s quite evident that Vice President Sara Duterte has been actively involved in matters that are beyond her responsibilities as the Secretary of Education,” Gutierrez said.

“Ang kanyang pakikisawsaw sa mga isyu na labas na sa kanyang responsibilidad katulad ng pag-allow sa International Criminal Court na mag-imbestiga, pagsasagawa ng peace talks sa pagitan ng gobyerno at ng communist rebels, pakikialam sa foreign relations sa pamamagitan ng pangunguna sa pagbati sa anibersaryo ng China at mga pagsasagawa ng ribbon cutting sa mga pribadong kumpanya ay sadyang nakakabahala,” he added.

Gutierrez’s echoed that of former Sen. Leila De Lima’s statement where she said that Duterte should just resign her Cabinet post if she will just continue publicly opposing President Marcos Jr.

“Oo, pangkaraniwan na para sa mga politiko na manghimasok at mangialam sa iba’t-ibang isyu at aktibidad, but the extent of Vice President Duterte’s involvement in issues outside her primary function raises questions about her focus and priorities as Secretary of Education,” Gutierrez said.

“If Vice President Duterte finds the demands of the Secretary of Education overwhelming or incompatible with her interests and skills, it might be prudent for her to consider stepping down from this role,” he said.

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