Teachers oppose change in DepEd leadership

MANILA, Philippines - Teachers’ groups yesterday opposed the appointment of Presidential Assistant for Education Mona Valisno as the new head of the Department of Education (DepEd), saying it would impede the reforms implemented by Secretary Jesli Lapus.

With only four months remaining in her administration, President Arroyo announced on Monday that Valisno would replace Lapus, who will be the new Trade secretary. “What will she (Valisno) be able to do in the remaining four months of her tenure? We believe this reorganization is political accommodation,” said Fidel Fababier, secretary-general of the national teachers’ organization Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers (ASSERT).

Fababier said Lapus’ replacement would disrupt the continuity of the current programs and the resolution of issues on the specific provisions on the Magna Carta for Teachers.

Teachers groups have been dialoguing with the DepEd to negotiate working hours and unpaid allowances and benefits since 2006.

“We do not relish the fact that with a new Secretary on board, all our concerns would be dismissed with a simple ‘pag-aaralan muna namin ito, at bumalik na lang kayo muli (We will study this, come back later),” Fababier said. 

Benjo Basas, national president of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), a federation of public school teachers’ associations all over the country, said despite Valisno’s long service in the education sector, they are not sure if she can pursue the ongoing reforms of the department.

Valisno herself said she was surprised by the President’s announcement the other day. She said, however, that she is ready to head DepEd because she is familiar with all the issues and concerns in the education sector.

“I’m very honored by the trust and confidence placed in me by the President,” Valisno said.

Valisno co-chaired the Presidential Task Force to Reform the Education Sector from 2008 to 2009 and is a former chair of the Commission on Higher Education. She also worked for DepEd’s forerunner, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports and was the founding director of the National Education Testing and Research Center.

“I have served education all my life,” Valisno said.