By Ma. Teresa Montemayor/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones on Monday urged all stakeholders to create a better learning environment for the Filipino youth as she welcomed 27.2 million students back to school.
In her welcome message for the opening of school year 2019-2020, Briones said the department has more challenges to hurdle as the country’s population continues to increase.
“We are likewise increasing our efforts to deliver quality, accessible, relevant and liberating education basic education. As we pivot from access to quality, we are also continuously reviewing our curriculum and developing our learning resources,” she said.
Apart from the development of learning resources, Briones said the DepEd, through the National Educators Academy of the Philippines, aims to empower teachers as they deliver quality basic education to the youth.
“We are also continuously upgrading our facilities by improving their resistance to typhoons and earthquakes,” she added.
Briones reported that the DepEd was able to provide “access to fairly-priced commodities, safer streets and roads, and adequate water and electricity supply” through the Oplan Balik Eskwela program.
“Our command centers and hotlines nationwide are open to serve you and ensure a smooth opening of classes,” she said.
Briones also urged the learners to value education as “it took the whole community to prepare them on their learning journey”.
“Parents, teachers, local government units, national government agencies, non-government organizations, partners from the private and public sectors, and other stakeholders, through the Brigada Eskwela, they all contributed their time, effort, and resources to provide you with a safe and motivating learning environment,” she said.
Briones and other DepEd officials attended the flag raising ceremony at the Signal Village National High School (SVNHS) in Taguig City.
SVNHS, with 9,000 enrollees for school year 2019-2020, holds Taguig city government’s school building project.
The building has seven floors, 21 fully-airconditioned classrooms, elevator, roof deck, a Mac Laboratory and a Hope Center.
“I enjoin everyone who believes in the cause of education to work together and join us in responding to the increasing development requirements of our country, and in creating a better world for the Filipino learners whom we are all sworn to serve,” Briones added.
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