Editor’s Note: The following article is grabbed from the Inday Sara Nation FB Page
THE decision to appoint a non-teacher to lead the biggest government agency in our country has drawn criticism from many.
Many have questioned how someone not from the academe can contribute in the improvement of the Philippine educational system.
Many have said that there should be another teacher in control, but we all know that someone has to have the guts to choose the difficult and less-traveled path.
We all know that more than anything else, we need to have someone who have a heart of a mother and a true leader.
The following are the accomplishments of VP-Secretary Sara Z. Duterte- Carpio in the Department of Education:
- MATATAG Curriculum pilot testing in 35 school across the regions in the country.
K-10 MATATAG curriculum received positive feedback from the learners and teachers of 35 schools who participated in the pilot testing last September 25, 2023. It was participated in by 5 schools each in Central Visayas, NCR, CAR, and Regions 1, 2, 12 and CARAGA.
- National Learning Camp
National Learning Camp started last SY 2022-2023 End-of-School Year (EOSY) break to improve learning outcomes in Mathematics, English and Science. NLC aims to create a camp-like atmosphere by integrating fun and engaging activities to foster learner interest and character development.
- Catch-Up Fridays
DepEd launched the Catch-Up Fridays beginning January 12, 2024 across elementary and secondary schools. It is a learning mechanism intended to strengthen the foundational, social, and other relevant skills necessary to actualize the intent of the basic education curriculum. This is part of the department’s commitment in developing quality, relevant, inclusive and responsive basic education. All Fridays throughout the school year is designated as Catch-Up Fridays with a focus on reading and fostering values, health and peace education.
- Launching of MATATAG Curriculum to decongest the learning competencies. The current curriculum has 11,738 learning competencies, it was now decreased to 3,664 most essential learning competencies in the MATATAG Curriculum. There is also an on-going review of the Senior High School curriculum which aims to produce job-ready, competent and responsible citizens.
- Turn-over of the Completed Last Mile Schools
As a compassionate DepEd Secretary, VP Sara have not forgotten those learners residing in the far-flung areas. She believes that all children must have access to quality education. The purpose of this program is to solve gaps in facilities of schools and transform makeshift classrooms into standard ones. 24 Last Mile Schools were turned-over as of January 2024.
- As a response to the classroom shortage across the country, DepEd, under the leadership of VP Sara built 3,637 new classrooms and repaired 4,542 classrooms as of January 2024. DepEd believes that much still needs to be done in order to address the decades-long problem of inadequate learning spaces and facilities.
- Active Participation during Brigada Eskwela
VP Sara is very much hands-on durng Brigada Eswkela and she really walk the talk. During BE week, she visits schools and actively engage herself in the repainting and cleaning of classrooms.
- Farm School Implementation
VP Sara is steadfast in supporting the farm schools in different regions which long began during the previous administrations. Her office provided a generous assistance of P2, 900,000.00 to Jayobo Farm School and P3, 000,000.00 to Agdahon Farm School last year of 2023.
- DepEd’s 236K Trees- A Christmas Gift for the Children
Simultaneous Tree-Planting Activity was held last December 6, 2023 as part of the DepEd’s core values-“makakalikasan”. It was a major eco win because DepEd planted a total of 1,826,334 trees for all children across the regions in the country, with the Cordillera Administrative Region alone planting 1,336,496 trees.
- School Visits and Learning Equipment Turn-over
When VP Sara assumed office in 2022, she became visible to people not only as Vice President but also as a hard-working DepEd Secretary. She visits schools from time to time to see first-hand the challenges and listen to the clamor of the teachers. She is a leader who is not contented by just sitting inside her air-conditioned office and just wait for reports to be submitted to her. She goes out her way to meet and be with the people- learners, parents and teachers. During her visits, she brings with her sacks of rice, laptops and other teaching-learning equipment for teachers. She also brings with her sports equipment to encourage learners to be fit and sporty!
- Provision of speedy Wi-Fi facility in all public schools nationwide as key component of the DepEd Digital Education 2028 or Digi-Ed Program.
- Creation of separate strand dedicated entirely on matters of procurement was made to improved procurement in DepEd. This strand is ordered to ensure that the delivery of services is done within the period required by law, following the processes mandated by law.
- Establishment of a calamity fund for public school teachers to provide them with immediate financial assistance during disaster situations.
- VP Sara also understands the financial burden caused by medical emergencies, thus, she also proposed and fervently moved for the amendment of Administrative Order that will allow DepEd to provide health insurance for teaching and non-teaching personnel.
- DepEd has secured critical assistance in the provision of a comprehensive insurance Coverage for Public School Buildings through the Government Service Insurance System and the Bureau of Treasury (GSIS-BTr) collaboration under the National Indemnity Insurance Program (NIIP).
- Trimming down of the unremitted GSIS contributions from 10B to 4B as of 2023. From the moment VP Sara assumed office, she didn’t waste time and immediately looked for solutions to eradicate the department’s issues which she inherited from the previous administrations.
- Issued policy for teaching overload pay thru DepEd Order No. 5, s. 2024. DepEd acknowledges that teacher welfare is as important as teacher quality. Guided by the Republic Act No. 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, the holistic well-being of teachers is prioritized by ensuring fair and equitable distribution of teacher workload.
- Increased cap for service credits from 15 days to 30 days.
- Lessen administrative tasks for teachers thru DepEd Order no. 2, s. 2024. VP Sara wants our teachers back in the classroom and maximize their time in actual classroom teaching. To ensure its effective implementation, along with the filling up of 5,000 administrative personnel for 2023 and another 5,000 administrative personnel in 2024 DepEd will also provide additional MOOE for hiring the necessary administrative support staff.
- During the National Teacher’s Month celebration, VP Sara promised that teachers will have a 30-day straight break without volunteer work for the School Year 2023-2024. All activities with voluntary participation is scheduled after the said 30-day break.
These are only some of the notable accomplishments of VP Inday Sara Duterte in the Department of Education in less than 2 years in the office. A leader who does not mind receiving less for all her efforts even amidst the left and right black props against her. A leader who is silently working for the improvement of our educational system.
