Herrera backs VP Sara for basic education reforms
A HOUSE leader has expressed strong support for the efforts of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte to address the challenges hounding the country’s basic education system.
“I personally laud and support the Vice President for her commitment to improving the quality of basic education in the country in her capacity as the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd),” House Deputy Minority Leader Bernadette Herrera said.
“I have absolute confidence in her ability to institute [much-needed] reforms to make the Philippine basic education system competitive and at par with other countries,” she added.
Herrera issued the statement after Duterte launched the “MATATAG” agenda, which would serve as the DepEd’s roadmap in addressing the challenges in the basic education sector under her term as education chief.
MATATAG aims to focus on making curriculum relevant to produce competent and job-ready, active, and responsible citizens; taking steps to accelerate delivery of basic education facilities and services; taking good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and give support to teachers to teach better.
These key strategies, according to Herrera, would “surely help the basic education sector continue to recover from the pandemic and address the problems that have long existed in our education system.”
Herrera said she is also ready to support whatever laws or policies the Vice President wants Congress to prioritize for the basic education sector.
“Malaki po ang tiwala natin kay VP Sara at nakahanda po tayong suportahan anumang batas o polisiya na sa tingin natin ay makapagpapabuti ng kalagayan ng sistema ng edukasyon sa bansa,” she stressed.
Herrera said she was particularly amazed by the Vice President’s determination to get children’s education back on track with the resumption of full face-to-face classes after two years of intermittent distance learning during the pandemic.
“We have seen the tremendous work VP Sara has done to help schools reopen for in-person learning and allow our children to safely return to school,” Herrera pointed out.
She added: “I believe this is just a preview of how she will lead the DepEd in the next six years. With her strong leadership and firm political will, people can expect VP Sara to undertake some bold reforms that will help improve and transform our country’s basic education system.”
