New, old DepEd chiefs see eye-to-eye

Education Secretary Armin Luistro and incoming Education Secretary Leonor Briones share a light moment after their nearly two-hour-long meeting Wednesday night. PHOTO BY JOVIC YEE

CHANGE may be coming to  the Department of Education (DepEd) but its new leadership would not so much as implement a sudden shift in policies as it would improve what has already been implemented.

Incoming Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the transition at power in the DepEd, where a major reform program is in progress, will be a “cordial” one since she and outgoing Education Secretary Armin Luistro “have a shared perspective on education.”

“Both of us recognize the need for the K to 12 program,” Briones said in a recent interview with reporters.

She said that both of them also recognized that the DepEd budget,  considered the largest among all government agencies, was still not sufficient.

Nat’l treasurer

Luistro lauded President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s appointment of Briones, who served as national treasurer in the Estrada administration.

“She brings with her a wealth of experience in public finance and administration, which would be beneficial to the DepEd, being the agency with the largest budget. We also know that education is one of her top advocacies and she considers it her lifelong mission, especially for the last mile learners,” Luistro said in a statement last week.

 Concern

Asked to comment on Duterte’s statement that the problem with the K to 12 program “seems to be insurmountable,” Briones said the incoming President’s only concern was for those who would be left out,  such as out-of-school youth and adults who had  not been able to get an education.

The program is set to be fully implemented with the roll-out of the senior high school program on June 13.

“President Duterte’s concern is how to absorb and bring in those who will not be able to join the program, which is also my concern. That’s why we said we lack funds. We have initiated a dialogue with the incoming DBM (Department of Budget and Management) secretary, and he assured us of his support for increased funding,” Briones said.

Briones also dismissed concerns the K to 12 program would be halted under the Duterte administration, pointing out that by the time the new President takes his oath of office on June 30, the senior high school program would be on its second week of implementation.

Briones said she and Luistro will meet again in the coming days so she could get a good grasp of the challenges faced by the department.

She is scheduled to talk to the media today to discuss her appointment as the next education secretary and her plans for the department./rga