MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) will likely bring good news to the education sector, Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara said Monday.
“Hindi ko lang alam ano exactly sasabihin niya pero I think may sasabihin siya na matutuwa ang sektor (I don’t know what he will say exactly but I think he will say something that will delight the sector),” the new education chief said in an ambush interview on the sidelines of his first flag-raising ceremony at the DepEd Central Office.
He added that his team has already submitted pressing issues in the education sector to the President.
Angara, however, stressed that Marcos’ marching orders remain clear, particularly on addressing challenges to teachers’ and learners’ welfare.
“Number one, he said we need to take care of our teachers because they are the heart of our) education system,” he said in a separate speech. “Pangalawa, sabi niya… (Secondly, he said) let’s improve the quality of our education dahil nakikita niya sa mga achievement test international test, medyo nangungulelat po ang ating bansa (because he’s seeing the results of achievement test, international test, our country is being left behind),” Angara added.
The education chief, meanwhile, expressed plans to coordinate with the Civil Service Commission for the career progression of teachers.
He also mentioned the continuous rollout of the Matatag curriculum, launched by his predecessor Vice President Sara Duterte, to ensure a stable curriculum for learners.
The Matatag Curriculum, piloted in September 2023, aims to decongest the curriculum and resolve misplaced learning competencies from Kinder to Grade 10.
Matatag stands for “Make the curriculum relevant to produce job-ready, Active and responsible citizens; TAke steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education services and provision facilities; TAke good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusiveness learning, and positive learning environment; and, Give support for teachers to teach better.”
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