VP Sara highlights teachers’ role in shaping youth's minds amid ‘fake news’ era

Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday underscored the importance of the teachers' role in helping students develop critical thinking amid the age of disinformation. 

In her message for the National Teachers’ Month, Duterte, former secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), thanked the teachers for serving with unwavering dedication for the future of the Filipino youth. 

“Nanggagaling sa mga guro ang pundasyon ng kaalaman ng mga kabataan at bahagi kayo sa paghubog ng kritikal na pag-iisip. Mahalaga ito sa panahon ng fake news, misinformation, disinformation at iba pang media at social media content na naglalayong manipulahin ang katotohanan at tama,” she said. 

(The foundation of the youth’s knowledge comes from teachers and they play a part in shaping critical thinking. This is important in the era of fake news, misinformation, disinformation and other media and social media content that aims to manipulate the truth.) 

“Sana ay mas ihanda natin ang mga kabataan sa landas ng tama at katotohanan,” she added. 

(I hope we can better guide the youth towards what is right and true.) 

Duterte also pointed out the commitment of teachers to nation-building despite the issues hounding the education system such as crowded rooms, limited resources, and heavy workload, among others. 

“Teachers not only shape the future of a nation, they also fortify the values that hold a nation together, and in a democracy, instill the importance of freedom and the protection of our rights,” she said. —AOL, GMA Integrated News