Duterte ‘failed’ as DepEd chief – Palace

Metro Manila, Philippines - Malacañang hit back at Vice President Sara Duterte’s remarks that the Philippines is lagging behind in education, saying her assessment only reflects her own shortcomings as the former secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Speaking before overseas Filipinos in Kuwait last week, Duterte lamented that while children abroad are already learning robotics and coding at a young age, Filipino students remain stuck in “paper and pencil” education.

“What I have noticed is that in our country, it takes a long time before we are able to catch up with modernization. In other countries, they are so modern. As for us, we are still in paper and pencil,” Duterte said.

She added that there are high school students in the Philippines who still cannot read.

In a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Aug. 20, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro rejected the vice president’s criticism.

“Binigyan po siya ng pagkakataon, pinagkatiwalaan siya ng Pangulo since 2022 hanggang 2024 para maging DepEd secretary. Dalawang taon halos na siya ay dapat nagtrabaho kung anuman ang kaniyang nirereklamo, dapat natupad na po sana niya ito sa kaniyang panahon,” Castro said.

[Translation: She was given the chance, she was trusted by the President from 2022 to 2024 to serve as DepEd secretary. She had nearly two years to work on the issues she is now complaining about—she should have addressed them during her time.]

“Ang pagtitiwalang ito ay sa kaniyang reklamo ngayon, nagri-reflect lamang na bilang siya ay naging DepEd secretary ay a complete failure,” she added.

[Translation: This trust, and her complaints now, only reflect that her stint as DepEd secretary was a complete failure.]

Duterte served as DepEd secretary from June 30, 2022 until July 19, 2024.

Castro assured students and teachers that the current DepEd leadership under Sec. Sonny Angara is taking steps to correct past lapses.

“At huwag pong mag-alala ang mga mag-aaral at mga guro at mga teaching staff. Ang ating DepEd secretary, Secretary Angara ay nililinis naman kung anuman ang dumi na naiwan noong nakaraan,” she said.

[Translation: Students, teachers, and staff need not worry. Our DepEd secretary, Secretary Angara, is cleaning up whatever was left behind from the past.]

She noted that modernization efforts, including the release of some 1.5 million gadgets, laptops, and other teaching materials, are finally being implemented under Angara.