DepEd Press Releases 2016
Isang Daan, Isang DepEd toward education for all
One hundred days after the change of administration, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday iterated that its commitment to intensify efforts to provide quality, accessible, inclusive, and liberating basic public education for all Filipino learners.
“The role of education in improving and uplifting the living standards of disadvantaged groups in the Philippines is not lost in the administration’s agenda, in fact, it is the focal point of every reform and continuity that we have been carrying out in our first 100 days,” DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones stated.
In a report recently issued by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), the body stated its concern over the need to strengthen the country’s public education sector by increasing the education budget; improving access to quality education for all, particularly the indigenous peoples, children with disabilities, and rural poor; and closer regulation of private schools.
Laying out the priorities
Addressing the Central Office personnel during a general assembly on Monday, Briones presented an update on her administration’s first 100 days. She also laid out a 10-point agenda, emphasizing how this is based on her team’s vision and the priorities of the Duterte administration.
However, Briones was quick to assure continuity of the key programs of the previous administration.
“Hindi dahil bago ang Secretary o dahil bago ang administrasyon, ay bago na ang lahat. Kailangan may continuity. Kung anuman ang ginagawa natin ngayon, it builds on the past and present programs,” Briones said.
The Secretary also acknowledged the basic challenges of the Department, such as raising the quality of education, making education accesible and relevant to the urgent needs and opportunities of the country, and making education truly liberating.