In the educational sector, I believe it is time for our children to return to full face-to-face classes once again.
The Department of Education, led by our highly able Vice President Sara Duterte, [applause] is now preparing for its implementation in the upcoming school year, with utmost consideration for the safety of students, as we are still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We must ensure that our classrooms are safe for teachers, for students, and the entire academic community when they return to face-to-face classes.
We continue to encourage everyone to get their booster shots in preparation for the resumption of in-person classes.
This is one of the reasons I have directed the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to undertake another rollout of booster shots.
The condition and availability of school rooms for our students must also be addressed, again, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Though some complications have arisen over the question of repair of school buildings in relation to the Mandanas-Garcia ruling, this will be ironed out.
We have been in discussion with local government leaders, Governors and Mayors, in the last few weeks to determine, with the LGUs, what is actually practicable, what functions belong to the LGUs and what belong to the National Government.
There have also been lengthy discussions on the continuation and viability of the K to 12 school system. We are giving this a careful review, and all necessary inputs and points of view are now being considered.
In the longer term, we are instituting a program of refresher courses and re-trainings for our teachers so they can stay abreast of the rapid growth in technology, especially in this post-pandemic world. [applause]
As for the ‘horror’ stories that we have heard about the poor quality of educational materials and supplies that are being given to our schools – this must end!
Our children must always be equipped with the best that we can provide.
Ang edukasyon ay ang tangi nating pamana sa ating mga anak na hindi mawawaldas. Kaya anumang gastusin sa kanilang pag-aaral ay hindi tayo nagtitipid. Hindi rin tayo nagtatapon.
And once again, I am not talking about history, or what is being taught. I am talking about materials that are necessary for effective teaching in this day and age.
Children now need connectivity to the internet; they need devices to use; they need computers, educational tools [applause] so that they might participate fully in the digital community here and abroad.
We must do better in the international rankings especially when it comes to the so-called STEM subjects: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
These skills and this knowledge are necessary for our young people to be able to compete in a highly technological and competitive world.
The raw talent is there in our young people. It is up to our educational system to develop and to refine that great pool of talent.
Foreign employers have always favored Filipino employees because of our command of the English language. This is an advantage that we must continue to enjoy.
The internet has now become the global marketplace. Not only for goods services but also for ideas, even extending to our own personal interactions.
The language of the internet – for better or for worse – is English. Therefore, the question of our medium of instruction must be continuously re-examined to maintain that advantage that we have established as an English-speaking people.
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