"That is a very alarming thing. Education being one of my platforms of government must be given topmost priority. The results would show that majority of our high school graduates are unfit for college, which is a stepping-stone for a high paying job," said Roco, who visited Cebu the other day.
Roco, the widow of the late senator and DepEd secretary Raul Roco, explained that opportunities for learning must be available to all, and that state universities must have quality education in order to compete globally.
"If you are just a high school graduate, chances are you can't get a high paying job. Students also must study well and the school's curriculum must be in tune with the present time," said Roco, who is dubbed as the "Inang Guro."
A mother of six and grandmother of three, Roco has also pursued a career in education.
She established the Live and Learn Nursery School and, until recently, was a professor at St. Joseph's College in Quezon City, Ateneo de Manila University and Miriam College.
She took up child development at the University of the Philippines, earned a master's degree in communication arts and social psychology from the Ateneo de Manila University, and finished programs in basic management and development management at the Asian Institute of Management.
Asked why the Cebuanos should vote for her, Roca said: "Cebuanos are intelligent people and I'm sure they want somebody intelligent to represent them at the Senate."
Roco, who graduated magna cum laude for her degree in education, said the Filipinos have one common dream - which is to value education.
Her slogan, "Edukasyon laban sa kahirapan...Edukasyon laban sa katiwalian," is something that she believes every Filipino should remember. -Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM