BBM to Sara: Look after welfare of teachers

MANILA – President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday stated that he wants Vice President and incoming Department of Education (DepEd) chief Sara Duterte to look after the welfare of country’s teachers.

This, after Duterte announced that the incoming President instructed her to review the implementation of the country’s K to 12 program.

He noted that he did not want to preempt the plans of the incoming vice president, but reminded her not to forget the plight of teachers.

“Ang aking laging pinapaalala sa kanya is yung mga teacher. Kailangan alalayan ang mga teacher, kailangan i-training ang mga teacher para maganda ang maging trabaho nila (I keep reminding her to look after the teachers. The teachers need to be guided, need to be given training so they would improve in their jobs),” Marcos said in a press conference in Mandaluyong City.

Apart from making sure that teachers receive fair salaries and benefits, he wanted them to be provided skills training including teaching supplies and equipment.

“Ang mga teacher naman, ‘yan ang pinaka madaling turuan (Teachers are the easiest people to each),” he added.

According to Marcos, he also wanted Duterte to evaluate the current medium of instruction being used in schools.

“There was also the question of when we start to teach English…When we move from the lingua franca to English,” he added.

Marcos stated that the country’s quality of education must be improved.

He added that he is optimistic that the country’s literacy rate would improve under his administration.

Earlier, Duterte stated that she would prioritize giving students quality education and improving the living condition of the teachers.

Outgoing DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones also mentioned that she and her team are eager to assist her successor in ensuring a smooth transition of priority education programs and policies, including the Basic Education Development Plan 2030.