Marcos declares May 16 of every year as Nat'l Education Support Personnel Day

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. signed into law the measure declaring the May 16 of every year as ''National Education Support Personnel Day.''

Republic Act No. 12178 recognizes the vital role of Education Support Personnel in the realization of the right to education, in fostering positive and safe learning environments, and in ensuring that public and private education institutions function effectively in providing quality education for all learners and students.

The term "Education Support Personnel" refers to persons employed in teaching-related or non-teaching positions of any public or private school, college, university, or other educational institution, including but not limited to teaching assistants. registrars, librarians, doctors, nurses, schools division counselors, school counselors, school counselor associates, guidance counselors, psychologists, clerks, and the rest of the professional, administrative, technical, and general staff who provide support to learners, students, and teaching personnel.

Section 5 of the law states that the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education shall serve as the lead agencies in the preparation and implementation of the annual program of activities for the observance of the National Education Support
Personnel Day.

''To ensure the meaningful observance and celebration of this day, the heads of national government agencies and government-owned and/or -controlled corporations involved in education, local government units, and private sector employers involved in education are encouraged to allow their respective personnel to participate in any related activity to be held within the premises of their respective offices or establishments,'' the law read. —VAL, GMA Integrated News