President Ferdinand Marcos is taking his time in appointing a new Education secretary, mindful that the job is complicated and very demanding, and that it will need the best talent in the bureaucratic pool to fill the void left by resigned Department of Education chief, Vice President Sara Duterte.
Marcos said on Saturday that he is looking for a new Education Secretary who can galvanize the large bureaucracy and handle the complicated work.
In a media interview following the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and National Unity Party (NUP) Alliance Signing Ceremony in Makati City, the President said there are calls for the new secretary to be an educator, administrator, and a history professor.
“All of these and they are all valid concerns. That’s what education is all about. And that is why… I’ve gone through so many CVs (curriculum vitae). Marami tayong magagaling,” Marcos said.
“We have to choose somebody who has an understanding of what is important in terms of being an educator. But then we also have to find the same person who has to have those qualities that can galvanize this very, very large bureaucracy which is the DepEd and to achieve all of those gains or all of those changes to make the educational standard better,” he added.
The Chief Executive admitted having a hard time choosing the new DepEd chief. “Sa madaling sabi, oo nahihirapan ako pumili dahil napakakumplikado ng trabaho ng DepEd.”
During an interview, President Marcos highlighted the need to appoint an educator who can help both the teachers and students.
“Ang lagi naman natin tiningnan ang mga test score natin. We have to bring up the test scores. You all know that. So, you need an educator who understands how to help the students, how to help the teachers, number one,” he said.
President Marcos expressed gratitude to Vice President Sara Duterte for her work in DepEd.
“Mahirap ang trabaho ng DepEd. That’s why we have to thank Inday Sara really for the effort that she put in,” he said.
Earlier this week, President Marcos said the needs of the department are being considered in choosing the new DepEd chief. He said DepEd is “quite possibly, arguably the most important department because education is that important.”
Vice President Duterte last week resigned as DepEd Secretary and co-vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). | PND