Education staff denounce Roco’s management style

Some 150 employees of the Department of Education (DepEd) staged a picket yesterday to denounce the management of Secretary Raul Roco and his hiring of highly-paid consultants. Nobody, however, among the protesters wanted to own up as organizer of the protest action, claiming they just responded to a white paper that was circulated at the DepEd central office last Thursday.

"We just received a white paper and it says there that there would be a protest action today against Roco. We agreed to the grievances written on it so here we are," said an employee who asked not to be named.

The STAR tried to reach Roco for comment but was informed by his staff that he was out on a meeting. The protesters brandished posters branding him as "dictator" and calling for his resignation.

The employee added that the management style of Roco was "dictatorial" as he usually imposed his will on DepEd employees and officials.

"He is not open to suggestions and if he does not like what you are saying you would get ill remarks from him. He is not a good leader," the employees complained.

The protesters assailed Roco for suspending Director Alice Panares of the DepEd National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) for 15 days for insubordination.

Panares was sacked for prioritizing "external groups" like teacher’s organization and media in the presentation of the new curriculum that will be implemented this coming schoolyear.

Roco wanted the new curriculum to be first presented to DepEd regional directors, school superintendents and principals and teachers who would implement it.

Ernesto Sayo, former president of the DepEd Central Employees Union (CEU) said that Panares was not given "due process" and they feared that they would suffer the same fate at Roco’ s will.

"It is easy for him to penalize people, without due process, if he can do it to an official, how much more to rank-and-file like us," he said.

A second white paper was circulated yesterday in which Roco was criticized for allegedly hiring highly-paid consultants. – Sheila Crisostomo