By Liza Agoot/ PNA
STA. MARCELA Apayao — Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones on Wednesday urged public school administrators to invite graduation speakers who can inspire learners.
“There are so many role models in addition to good politicians that the children can relate to,” Briones said in a press conference at Sta. Marcela Central School, the oldest public school in Apayao province.
Briones was in Apayao for the opening of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) meet. She also visited public schools to meet and talk with teachers and learners in the province, located 12 hours away from Baguio city.
She said there are achievers in different fields who can be invited as guest speaker, who can inspire the learners, during graduation.
“If you are from Bohol, you have a physicist who graduated from the University of the Philippines, who is with NASA (National Aeronautics Space Administration),” Briones said, referring to Josephine Santiago-Bond, the head of the Advanced Engineering Development Branch at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Santiago-Bond was born in the United States but proudly presents herself as having grown up in the Philippines.
“Ang daming makaka-inspire sa ating mga bata (there are many who can inspire our children),” Briones said.
While there is no guideline on getting politicians and poll candidates as graduation speakers, Briones said there is also no instruction to invite the “favorite” politicians of school officials.
She said in of case politicians — incumbent or running for elective positions — they can only give inspirational words to students but they are prohibited to campaign.
“We discourage tarpaulins and giving of give-aways and campaign materials. That is forbidden by law — by the Constitution, Comelec (Commission on Elections), Civil Service Commission and the DepEd,” Briones said.
