VP Sara to SKSU student leaders: Help rebuild communities
VICE President (VP) and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Monday called on student leaders of the Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) to help government rebuild communities and ensure that education is accessible to the youth.
“Together, let us rebuild our conflict-affected communities with the values of peace, mutual trust, and conflict transformation that will empower us to achieve our shared goals for sustainable development and inclusive socio-economic advancement,” Duterte said in her message at the university’s Student Leaders Assembly.
Emphasizing that conflict and violence hinder the region’s capacity to propel progress, Duterte also espoused that “literacy is one of the casualties of war.”
“Many of our youth in many parts of Mindanao — including in South Central Mindanao — have suffered the misfortune of chronically-interrupted learning progress because of violence,” she said.
“Meanwhile, our youth, especially those who have forcibly dropped out of school, are vulnerable to being recruited by groups that espouse violence and terrorism,” she added.
The Vice President also said she “never lost faith in the power of the Filipino youth,” and that the Department of Education commits to [honing] children to be nation builders to “unlock Mindanao’s full potential.”
“As the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), I hold on to this promise as we work hard to institutionalize peace and boldly introduce reforms in our basic education curriculum,” she said.
Duterte acknowledged SKSU for shaping transformational leaders.
“For 32 years, the administration, faculty and staff of Sultan Kudarat State University have extended quality higher learning and holistic youth formation not only in Tacurong City but also in Isulan, Kalamansig, Bagumbayan, Palimbang, and Lutayan,” the Vice President said.
She also challenged the student leaders to be the change they want for the societies and sustain their ties with the government in achieving holistic goals for the country and the Filipinos.
“As a fellow Mindanawon, I urge you to partner with the government in empowering your peers to become fellow catalysts of peace, reconciliation, and non-violence in your communities,” she said.
“May you harness the benefits of your education in steering a wider path to development as you become vehicles of transformative growth and champions of our democratic values of freedom and justice in society,” she added.
