MANILA, Philippines—Education Secretary Jesli Lapus on Tuesday congratulated CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida, saying the street educator showed that “education is key to success in life.”

“Efren is the urban version of DepEd's 1,000 rural mobile teachers who bring education to far-flung, sometimes isolated, communities," Lapus said.

"Their missionary zeal is heroic as they take risks in daily motorcycle travels through rivers and mountains in sometimes untrusting villages,” he added.

Lapus said Efren's model was first introduced by DepEd's Alternative Learning Systems as "mobile libraries" using bauls, ballot boxes, vans, baskets and other materials.

“May all such outreach programs of universities, churches, and NGO's be further inspired by this international recognition of the urban mobile teacher, Efren Peñaflorida,” Lapus said.