DAVAO CITY, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday said that he requires more time to appoint a new Secretary of Education who can effectively manage the large bureaucracy and handle the complex responsibilities of the Department of Education (DepEd).
During a media interview following the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and National Unity Party (NUP) Alliance Signing Ceremony in Makati City, Marcos emphasized the need for a multifaceted leader.
“There are calls for the new secretary to be an educator, administrator, and a historical professor,” he said. “All of these are valid concerns. That’s what education is all about. I’ve gone through many CVs; we have many capable candidates.”
Marcos underscored the importance of finding someone who understands the educational landscape and can inspire and manage DepEd’s vast network.
“We have to choose somebody who has an understanding of what is important in terms of being an educator. But then we also have to find the same person who has those qualities that can galvanize this very large bureaucracy, which is the DepEd, to achieve all those changes to improve educational standards,” he added.
The President admitted that selecting the right candidate has been challenging. “Sa madaling sabi, nahihirapan ako pumili dahil napakakumplikado ng trabaho ng DepEd,” he said.
Marcos highlighted the critical need for an educator who can support both teachers and students. “We have to bring up the test scores. You need an educator who understands how to help the students and the teachers, number one,” he said.
The President also expressed gratitude to Vice President Sara Duterte for her contributions to DepEd. “Mahirap ang trabaho ng DepEd. That’s why we have to thank Inday Sara for the effort that she put in,” he said.
Earlier this week, Marcos reiterated that the needs of the department are being carefully considered in the selection process. He emphasized that DepEd is “quite possibly, arguably the most important department because education is that important.”
Vice President Duterte resigned as DepEd Secretary and co-vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) last week.
