June 30, 2024 - In response to President Marcos' deliberation on the next Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) underscored the need for a profound reorientation of the government's education agenda. ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua emphasized that merely appointing a new DepEd Secretary would not suffice without addressing deeper systemic issues.
"Regardless of who the President appoints as DepEd Secretary, if the primary objective remains to boost our international rankings to enhance Filipino workers' marketability abroad, we cannot expect meaningful change in education," stated Quetua.
Highlighting the inadequacies in education funding and infrastructure, Quetua criticized the Marcos administration's austerity measures in the education sector. "Without addressing the severe shortages in classrooms, facilities, teachers, staff, and resources, the dismal state of our schools will persist," he added.
Quetua called for a comprehensive reform led by the President himself, urging a doubling of the education budget to meet international standards and to correct the century-old focus on producing compliant labor rather than fostering critical thinking and patriotic ideals among students.
"The reform of our education system must begin at the highest levels of government. It requires the political will to overhaul our approach and redirect it towards producing citizens equipped with analytical skills, creativity, and a strong sense of national duty," Quetua asserted.
He concluded by urging President Marcos to initiate transformative reforms and subsequently select a DepEd Secretary from a pool of qualified experts and genuine public servants.