by Guia Rebollido, Ian Paolo Villacencio
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, July 23 – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the importance of addressing the education gaps in the country, calling on newly appointed Sonny Angara to improve the quality of education during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22.
Marcos Jr. stressed that the National Learning Recovery Program must proceed without the slightest distraction especially in basic education after revealing more than half of grades 6, 10, and 12 students failed to reach the ideal proficiency levels bearing low in information literacy, problem solving, and critical thinking skills,
“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 said.The president said that the digital gap should also be dealt with the same intensity as the classroom gap, pushing for education reform through technology.
“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.
Het affirmed that digitalization and solar powered electricity must now become the standard features in our schools and classrooms.Additionally, he said that the production of instructional materials, especially textbooks, must be error-free, with the whole process from approval of manuscript, procurement and distribution cut short from the present 3 three years to just 1 year.
Career growth for teachers
Marcos Jr. also discussed advancements in teachers benefits, including the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act where educators can receive annual teaching allowance starting next year as well as personal accident insurance from GSIS (Government Service Insurance System).
Additionally, he also emphasized the allocation of funds to finally implement the Expanded Career Progression System for public school teachers. “This will promote professional development and career advancement within their ranks. Each of which will have ample career growth opportunities. With this system in place, we will accelerate the career growth of teachers,” he affirmed.
According to Marcos Jr., with the implementation of the system, no public school teacher will retire with a Teacher 1 position only.Improving PH educationThe president also highlighted that the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have joined forces now to incorporate Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the Senior High School curriculum to further boost the employability of students.
Moreover, addressing education gaps, the Marcos Jr also called on Education secretary Sonny Angara to take on the challenge of improving the quality of education in the Philippines.
“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 will now be the challenge to the new secretary: to ensure the recovery and improve the quality of education in our country as soon as possible.) the president said.
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