Peace, discipline won't address education crisis, teachers' group tells Sara Duterte

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) on Thursday expressed doubt that vice presidential frontrunner Sara Duterte can address the country's education crisis.

In a statement, the group said Duterte, who is set to head the Department of Education in the next administration, "has no track record" in addressing the problems hounding the education system.

"What we need is a leadership that recognizes the learning crisis, the desperate quality of education, the chronically underpaid status of teachers, and the degeneration of the country's sense of history and grasp of truth," ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio said.

"Sara Duterte has no recognition of these problems, that also worsened under her father’s rule, and has no track record in addressing these."

The daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte and currently the mayor of Davao City, Sara Duterte earlier said she would work on producing skilled learners following the announcement by leading presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. that she has agreed to become the next DepEd secretary.

Duterte said country needs a future generation of patriotic Filipinos that advocate peace and discipline in their respective communities.

For her part, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said she and the DepEd are looking forward to working for a smooth transition at the department with Duterte.

ACT, however, is challenging DepEd officials to stand for truth and justice.

"We will not allow another Duterte to further destroy the already crises-ridden education system by enforcing militaristic and repressive measures that will only make smaller this supposedly civilian, democratic space," Basilio said. —Mel Matthew Doctor/KBK, GMA News