Sen. Sonny Angara on Thursday announced his plans for the Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary post, which he is set to take over on July 19.
In an interview over Teleradyo Serbisyo, Angara said he will focus on three aspects upon his assumption of the post: streamlining the curriculum, improving quality of teaching, and providing better benefits to teachers.
“We’ll go back-to-basics; we must improve our reading education. The quality of education in terms of math, languages, and science has gone low. We must improve its system as this would help the country in general,” Angara said.
The senator noted how progressive countries excel in their education system by focusing on math, science and technology, and reading as their foundation.
He agrees with the direction of the MATATAG curriculum that streamlines the learning competencies of students, something that he intends to continue under his term.
“Let’s not do it in haste. Let’s continue simplifying our curriculum and focus on areas that matter,” Angara emphasized, reflecting on its implementation.
He said he does not believe that Filipinos lack creative thinking as shown in how Filipinos excel across industries around the world. This is contrary to the recent PISA study where the Philippines lags in creative thinking skills, with a score of 14 over the global average of 33.
“I do not believe that Filipinos are not creative because we see it all over the world – inventions, creative ad campaigns, and artworks,” Angara explained.
Instead, he will focus in improving the teaching system, which he intends to modernize for today’s students.
Angara also plans to provide better benefits toward teachers as “instructed by the President.” He will look into the benefits and loans of teachers by asking financial institutions to prioritize their “preferential treatment” in accessing them.
Angara also said there will be an increase in salaries that will take effect this year or in the following year.
In addition, he intends to put teaching assistants that would do non-teaching tasks previously done by the teachers to help lessen their workload.
The incumbent senator answered criticisms coming from other sectors about his appointment saying that he understands their fear of politicians’ politicking.
However, he assures that he will work his best in his post as the president’s “alter ego,” quelling concerns over possible misuse of the position.
“My term is about to end in the Senate. Between now and 2028, I don’t have any personal interests. Therefore, I will focus my interests towards the education sector – students, teachers, communities,” Angara said. — With Rolando Ng III