VP Sara: We must force children to go to school

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has called on parents and guardians to force children to go to school, stressing how education could prevent students from being recruited by terrorism groups.

In her speech during Koronadal City’s 83rd founding anniversary and the 23rd Hinugyaw Festival Tuesday night, Duterte emphasized how quality education, coupled with the guidance of parents, could keep the children from being vulnerable to terrorism.

She reiterated that the Department of Education (DepEd) is working on a national peace curriculum which is the agency’s “long-term solution to insurgency and conflict in our country.”

“Our goal is to equip our children and youth with conflict transformation skills and the strength and discernment to resist recruitment into radical and terror groups,” Duterte said.

“Education is a liberating force. I cannot overemphasize to all the adults here in Koronadal— we must force our children to go to school. The Department of Education is implementing a stronger child protection mechanism in our school communities--- another layer of defense against the recruitment and exploitation of children and youth,” she added.

Duterte earlier said that DepEd has been developing a program in the basic education curriculum that would teach Kinder to Grade 12 students to become peace builders in communities.

With the working title “National Culture for Peace,” she said the program aims to create basic education graduates who are peace builders and who could discern which is right from wrong.

Duterte said terrorism and continued recruitment of the youth have become hurdles in the path to progress, particularly in Mindanao.

“While our government armed forces are working hard to weed out these groups and keeping civilian Filipinos safe, we must ensure that we do our share to protect our peace and order and keep our communities free from fear and violence,” she added.—AOL, GMA Integrated News