Department of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has said his department should be spared from the political crisis now besetting the Arroyo administration.
Lapus, who was the guest in yesterday’s opening of the first Cebu Education Expo, said the education department should be free from any disruption so as not to affect the molding of the students.
He said he wants his department to stay focus and that he is not resigning from his post. “If I am to resign that would mean turning my back from the 20 million schoolchildren we are working so much to be functionally literate.”
Lapus said the education department has a very crucial role to maintain the 43,000 schools and almost half a million school teachers.
“Huwag ng idamay ang edukasyon, huwag nating i-disrupt. Kahit ano pa ang pamahalaan, we think of the given which is our school children,” he said.
Lapus was glad that the department has a high acceptance rating, second to the Department of Social Welfare and Development according to the surveys conducted by Pulse Asia and Social Weather Station.
Lapus lauded the Cebuanos for holding the education expo which, he said, would give the public a venue to explore outlets and means of getting one self an education.
Commission on Higher Education regional director Enrique Grecia said the event will give an alternative education to students without necessarily enrolling directly for a four-year degree.
“Here we want to show to the world that education is accessible and that there are myriads of opportunity for students, teachers and other practitioners in education,” Grecia said.
The event, which will run up to February 24, is participated by over 50 educational agencies, including a Singaporean school offering computer graphics course.
Rodulf Anton Kotik, founder and chief executive officer of Events and Expos Organizer’s Inc, said they hope to make the event a yearly affair, adding that they may venture out to neighboring provinces and cities. —Ferliza C. Contratista/LPM