IT'S the end of the school year in public schools and the start of the leadership of the Vice President (VP) in the Department of Education (DepEd). For the academic year 2022-2023, everything would be in the hands of VP Sara Z. Duterte.
Many are expressing their whys and hows. Probably we can start with four types of questions – closed, open, comparison, and rhetorical questions.
“Is VP Sara ready to take over the biggest bureaucracy in the Philippine government?”
Yes. With the transition of leadership and the support of the workforce of DepEd, the journey of VP Sara in the Department would be full of hope. Every cloud has a silver lining for VP Sara. She will be building a strong and competent team, and she will be a great team player at the same time.
Leadership and teamwork create a strong foundation to carry out DepEd’s vision and mission. It will be a collaborative team leadership for VP Sara where her management committee will cultivate a work culture that is productive, innovative, and joyful.
With her first few statements, VP Sara has disclosed her plans to improve the welfare of teaching and non-teaching personnel and the quality of education. This alone creates a constructive environment for DepEd.
“What will happen next?”
Too early to tell. It’s too early to identify all the details but VP Sara has touched base in DepEd with outgoing DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones. She listened to the performance and achievements in the last six years and noted the things that needed to be done to improve the implementation of programs and the operations of the entire Department consisting of 17 regions.
It is expected that innovations, with VP Sara’s team, will be introduced, programs and projects that had been effective will continue, and more creativity from the workforce will spark.
“What will be the similarities and differences between the previous term and VP Sara’s term?
VP Sara will again raise the bar to the next level as to how Professor Briones started it six years ago. In 2016, the challenge was in the full implementation of Senior High School (SHS) or the K to 12 Program. Some of our SHS graduates are now college graduates, entrepreneurs, or employees. They brought with them additional skills they learned in SHS.
Now in 2022, the challenge is on how to bring back normalcy in schools after the effects of the pandemic.
Last month, VP Sara has mentioned in a press briefing that she is targeting the full implementation of face-to-face classes in August. This is yet another challenge but the possibility is so big. Davao City alone, during her time, has 99.77 percent implementation of limited face-to-face classes. Only one school did not open because it was used as an isolation facility.
In Region XI, 76.86 percent or 1,691 out of 2,200 schools have already opened their schools for face-to-face classes. Now that the school year has just ended, teachers will prepare the school for the opening of classes next month.
“What’s in a Duterte as Education Secretary?”
Well, this is a rhetorical question. If you have lived in Davao City or, by any chance, have heard about their kind of leadership, you’ll know DepEd is in good hands. It will improve more. VP Sara will leave no stone unturned.
If you happen to doubt, cast it six years from now when nothing has been done. But in the meantime, believe and create positivity for the country.