Dust in the wind: DepEd needs to be healed and reformed

The world, said Albert Einstein, will not be destroyed by those who do evil but by those who watch them without doing anything. I see evil prancing and gallivanting all around me, and I am trying my level best to do something about it. President Marcos is urging the public to share their opinions and suggestions on how to solve the mountain of pressing issues and concerns that render the Philippines not conducive to a quality life.

Here is my solicited advice pertaining to the education sector, which, as we and the entire world know by now, is in a very deep crisis indeed.

Palace press officer Claire Castro said last week that there would be no longer any “rigodon” or revamp in the Cabinet, but rumors about impending changes persist. If and when he decides to “change partners” once more in the danse macabre that is Philippine politics, I strongly advise the President NOT to appoint a politician to the post of Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Politicians are basically self-serving, self-promoting, and self-replicating organisms. Education must not be politicized and placed under the control and supervision of politicians. An educator, a teacher, and one who is committed, dedicated, and apolitical, should be heading the DepEd.

Over the years, a string of career, dyed-in-the wool politicians has been appointed DepEd secretary. This vile, morally ignoble arrangement has brought Philippine education to where it now is—very sick, dying, or near death. The clowns in both Houses of Congress have been sent for. What are we waiting for, the embalmers, the undertakers or the pallbearers?

In all this chaos and darkness where we shiver, cold, and poor and hungry, in both body and spirit, there is a door, slightly ajar, letting in a sliver of light, a ray of hope. All is not lost, because we know in our hearts that there is a God. There are certainly many good, law-abiding, and God-fearing Filipinos, and we don’t lack for more worthy, more deserving individuals who are willing and able to serve the DepEd, the poor public school students, and the people with utmost sincerity, dedication, and passion.

What the DepEd needs to be cured, to be healed, and to get well is to be put under the care of good people, people like Fr. Flaviano “Flavie” Antonio Villanueva, this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awardee; Executive Director of Caritas Fr. Tito Calauag; Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD; former Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno; former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales; former Commissioner of the Commission on Audit Heidi Mendoza; Winnie Monsod; labor leader Luke Espiritu; Chief Legal Officer of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2), Atty. Joseph Estrada; Executive Director of the Private Education Assistance Committee, Dr. Rhodora “Doris” Ferrer; Ambeth Ocampo; Christophe ”Chris” Tan; and journalist Christian Esguerra.

Edcom 2 did a great job of assessing, identifying, and diagnosing the many symptoms of the disease that plagues Philippine education. All that needs to be done is to get it to take the bitter pill of resolve, eat humble pie, and implement the reforms suggested and recommended by Edcom 2 forthwith and immediately. Otherwise, all shall, once again, come to naught. All that sound and fury will have signified nothing but that we Filipinos are really dunces who have not learned our lessons. And all, all will just be dust in the wind.