By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday underscored the importance of strengthening the country’s education system through continued support and assistance to learners and teachers, as well as improving access to quality education.
This was highlighted as the President led the distribution of tablets, school bags, learning supplies, and literacy materials to public school students at Pinaglabanan Elementary School in San Juan City on Thursday.
During the visit, Marcos touted the use of tablets, smart televisions, and other digital learning tools to strengthen digital learning while helping ease education-related expenses for families.
The San Juan City local government distributed around 13,000 tablets to students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 across its 13 public schools.
The Office of the President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, also distributed about 1,000 school bags containing notebooks, pencils, crayons, and other school supplies for Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners.
In his remarks, Marcos touted the strong collaboration between the national and local governments in addressing the welfare of both learners and teachers.
“Ang ginawa po natin dito ay nagtulungan ang national government at saka ang local government. At maraming magagawa ang local government at national government kapag nagsasama, maganda ang coordination,” he said.
“Kaya congratulations sa ating mga local officials sa kanilang magandang trabaho at sa kanilang pagtugon sa education, pagtugon sa ating mga estudyante, sa ating mga guro upang pagandahin ang ating educational system para tayo lahat ay handa para sa kinabukasan, na magandang kinabukasan para sa ating minamahal na Pilipinas,” he added.
The President likewise assured continued support to teachers, emphasizing their vital roles in delivering quality education to every learner.
“Kung ang kabataan ay ang pag-asa ng bayan, nasa kamay ng ating mga guro ang pag-asa at ang kinabukasan ng buong Pilipinas. Kaya lahat po ng tulong ng mga teacher natin, lahat po ng tulong na maaari naming ibigay, binigay na po natin,” he said.
This initiative supports the Department of Education’s (DepEd) nationwide literacy drive to help Kindergarten through Grade 3 learners develop strong foundational reading skills.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive urged the presidential scholars in San Juan City to study hard and maximize the government’s programs intended for their benefit.
Under the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF), P100,000 is being allocated to each of the more than 42,000 barangays nationwide, with five beneficiaries per barangay receiving P20,000 to help support their educational needs.
In San Juan City alone, there are 105 presidential scholars across its 21 barangays.
“Kaya’t mag-aral kayo nang mabuti, pagtiyagaan ninyo talaga dahil ito ay kayamanan na maibibigay namin sa inyo na hindi na makukuha sa inyo,” Marcos Jr. said.
-jpv
