New DepEd Secretary Angara targets Curriculum Reform, Better Benefits for Teachers

Sec. Angara targets curriculum reform, better benefits for teachers

Incoming Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced on Thursday his intention to simplify the curriculum and enhance benefits for teachers.

Angara is examining the specifics of the MATATAG curriculum, introduced by his predecessor Vice President Sara Duterte, which aims to streamline learning competencies.

"Dapat back to basics lang ho tayo" (We need to go back to basics), he said on TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

"Tama ang direction ng Matatag curriculum. Dapat huwag tayong pabigla-bigla. I-maintain natin yung ating direksyon na simplify ang curriculum" (The direction of the Matatag curriculum is correct. We shouldn't make hasty changes. We should maintain our focus on simplifying the curriculum), he added.

Angara also emphasized reducing non-teaching tasks for educators and improving their access to financial institutions.

"Very distracted sila sa dami ng kanilang ginagawa. Kaya maganda yung instruction ng Pangulo sa atin na mag-focus sa pagtuturo at ayusin din yung kanilang mga benepisyo para inspired at saka motivated sila" (They are very distracted by the many tasks they have. That's why the President's instruction to focus on teaching and improve their benefits is important so that they are inspired and motivated), Angara said.

"Tinitingnan natin yung benepisyo nila. For example, yung mga nakukuha nilang loan, minsan natatali sila d’yan nang matagal at mataas ang interes. Pag-aralan natin, tapos kausapin natin yung ibang financial institutions ng gobyerno…na nagpapautang nang mura sa mga negosyante. Dapat may access din sila dito o preferential treatment" (We're looking into their benefits. For example, the loans they take sometimes tie them up for a long time with high interest rates. We'll study this and talk to government financial institutions that offer low-interest loans to businesses. Teachers should have access to these or receive preferential treatment), he continued.

Regarding a possible pay hike for teachers, Angara said, "I am confident in the next few years — hindi ko lang alam kung this year or next year — magkakaroon ‘yan ng pagtaas ng sweldo ng ating teachers" (I am confident that in the next few years — I just don't know if it will be this year or next year — there will be an increase in teachers' salaries).