VP Sara taps Briones as DepEd consultant
VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio has tapped her predecessor, Leonor Magtolis-Briones, to be her consultant.
Ms. Magtolis-Briones “committed” to stay with the Department of Education (DepEd) as a consultant for the Office of the Secretary, Ms. Duterte-Carpio said in a speech on Monday during the formal turnover event for the agency’s leadership streamed live on Facebook.
Ms. Duterte-Carpio praised her predecessor at the event, saying she led the agency in adopting “bold but necessary measures to provide Filipino children with accessible, quality education” and ensuring that learning is unhampered.
Ms. Magtolis-Briones also considered the economic welfare of Filipino teachers and the non-teaching personnel working under the organization, the vice president said.
Ms. Duterte-Carpio said Ms. Magtolis-Briones “never cowered in the face of disapprovals and pressures” — some of which stemmed from the agency’s poor response measures and delivery of services.
“When some sectors called for an academic freeze, the response was academic ease,” Ms. Duterte-Carpio said. “It was a brilliant, appropriate and timely response, made with will and resolve and foresight that our children’s learning is shielded from the adverse impacts of the pandemic.”
“Secretary Liling is a force, and I am humbled and honored to follow the footsteps of a much admired academic, public servant, social activist and change-maker,” she added.
The new Education chief also held a virtual meeting on Monday with members of private school associations.
She acknowledged the pandemic’s impact on private academic institutions and vowed government assistance measures, citing their role in the country’s education sector.
“Some private schools are facing closure. And a number have in fact already shut down,” she said. “As a community, there is an urgent need to build back, and build back stronger and better. The migration of students from private to public schools has put enormous strain on our public schools.”
Ms. Duterte-Carpio said DepEd needs the help of private schools in addressing the education crisis.
“Our task here is clear — it is to protect our children and ensure that quality education is made accessible for them — whether they are enrolled in private or public schools, whether they are in the cities or the countryside.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
