Palace: Sara a ‘complete failure’ as education secretary

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that the Philippines’ education system is being left behind by other countries is simply a reflection of her “complete failure” as secretary of education, a Malacañang official said yesterday.

Duterte headed the Department of Education for two years until 2024, and now her successor, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, is fixing the “huge mess” she left behind, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

“She was given the opportunity, the President trusted her from 2022 to 2024 to be DepEd secretary. She should have worked for almost two years (to fix) whatever she is complaining right now, she should have accomplished that during her time,” Castro said at a press briefing.

“It only shows that her term as DepEd secretary is a complete failure,” she said.

Duterte resigned in June last year as DepEd chief amid souring relations with the Marcoses.

She was impeached last year by the House of Representatives on various charges, including corruption and threatening the First Family with assassination.

The Supreme Court, however, deemed the impeachment unconstitutional in July and is now deliberating on appeals to overturn its decision.

“Our students, teachers and teaching staff should not worry because Secretary Angara is cleaning up the mess left by his predecessor,” Castro said.

Speaking before Filipinos attending the “Hakbang ng Maisug” event on Aug. 15 in Kuwait, Duterte said that education is advanced in other countries, while the Philippines remains stuck in “paper and pencil.”

“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. That is just an example. In other countries, their children are already learning about robotics and coding. At age three and four, they already know how to read,” she said.

“While in our country, there are high school students who still do not know how to read,” said Duterte.

Meanwhile, Castro said the Vice President was given travel authority by the Office of the President when she went to Kuwait last week.

With regard to calls for public officials, including Duterte, to publicize their travels abroad, Castro said, “that is their obligation.”

In the case of the President, Castro said his foreign trips are being reported by the media and the Chief Executive regularly reports on his official engagements abroad, including the investments he secured.

No revoked US student visas

Meanwhile, no Filipino was affected by the US State Department’s revocation of more than 6,000 student visas this year, the Philippine embassy in Washington said yesterday.

The State Department said visas were revoked due to overstays and other alleged law violations, including assault, driving under the influence and burglary.

The State Department did not break down the visas by nationality.

“The Philippine embassy in Washington DC has not received reports of any Filipinos affected by the revocation of student visas by the US State Department,” the embassy said in a statement sent to The STAR.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he has revoked the visas of hundreds, including students, because they got involved in activities which he said went against US foreign policy priorities. –  Pia Lee-Brago