PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 25, 2022, pushed for the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program for senior high school students.
In his first State of the Nation Address (Sona), Marcos said he supports the proposed reintegration of ROTC into the senior high school curriculum in all public and private schools.
He urged the Congress to pass a measure for the establishment of the Mandatory ROTC and National Service Training Program.
“This seeks to reinstitute the ROTC program as a mandatory component of senior high school programs (Grades 11 and 12) in all public and private tertiary-level educational institutions,” he said.
“The aim is to motivate, train, organize and mobilize the students for national defense preparedness, including disaster preparedness and capacity building for risk-related situations,” he added.
Earlier, the National Youth Commission (NYC) urged Marcos to allow the return of the mandatory ROTC in all colleges and universities, Preparatory Military Training (PMT) or Citizens Army Training (CAT) in all senior high schools, and Boy and Girl Scouts program in all elementary schools.
During the campaign period, Vice President Sara Duterte, the concurrent secretary of the Department of Education, said she would propose the mandatory rendering of military service for all Filipinos 18 years old and above.
The ROTC was made optional in 2002 following the death of Mark Chua, a University of Sto. Tomas student who was allegedly killed after divulging corruption allegations in the ROTC.
It is now one of the three components of the National Service Training Program, along with Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) and Literacy Training Service (LTS).
Meanwhile, Marcos said the implementation of the K-12 program is currently being carefully reviewed.
“There have also been lengthy discussions on the continuation and viability of the K to 12 school system. We are giving this a careful review, and all necessary inputs and points of view are now being considered,” he said.
He said they are also instituting a program of refresher courses and re-trainings for teachers so they can stay abreast of the rapid growth in technology, especially in this post-pandemic world
Marcos also vowed to put an end to the “horror stories” about poor quality of educational materials and supplies given to schools.
“Our children must always be equipped with the best that we can provide,” he said.
Marcos said children must be equipped with better devices and internet connectivity in order for them to participate fully in the digital community here and abroad.
He said there is also a need to strengthen the so-called STEM subjects or the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in order for the Filipino youth to be able to compete in a highly technological and competitive world.
“Foreign employers have always favored Filipino employees because of our command of the English language. This is an advantage that we must continue to enjoy. The internet has now become the global marketplace. Not only for goods services but also for ideas, even extending to our own personal interactions,” said Marcos.
“The language of the internet – for better or for worse – is English. Therefore, the question of our medium of instruction must be continuously re-examined to maintain that advantage that we have established as an English-speaking people,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)