Criteria for next education managers

Dear Mr. President:

Education Nation – the broadest education reform movement today – sincerely congratulates you on your stunning electoral triumph. Your victory imbues a renewed sense of national pride in all of us. 

As you go through the very critical task of identifying your cabinet officials, we respectfully propose the following key considerations in the appointment of your team of education managers including the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), the Chair of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA):

1. Your appointees to the DepEd, CHED and TESDA must be willing and able to work together—as originally envisioned after the management of education was first “trifocalized”—because education reform must be system-wide, 

2. Said appointees must command the respect of the many education stakeholders including teachers, parents, students, private sector and local governments because education reform should be an inclusive process, and

3. Said appointees must commit to carry through a reform agenda over the next six years because education reform requires a long-term, sustained and strategic effort.

Organized in 2006, Education Nation successfully brings together NGOs, business, the academe, parents, teachers, volunteers and the donor community to form the largest ever constituency for quality education for all.

We sounded the call for an Education President in 2010 who shall lead a sustained education reform effort and appoint education managers committed to creating a climate of continuous improvement for Philippine education.

On behalf of all education stakeholders affiliated with Education Nation, we earnestly hope that you and your education team will agree to work with us and our 10-Point Education Reform Agenda which was presented to you previously during the recent National Elections Campaign. We are committed to supporting and watching your government and its education policies and programs.

With your leadership, we are certain that education will become a key lever for poverty alleviation and good governance. – GUILLERMO M. LUZ, Ayala Foundation, Incorporated; MSGR. GERARDO O. SANTOS, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines; DR. CARIDAD C. LABE, Coalition for Better Education - Cebu; BRO. ARMIN A. LUISTRO, De La Salle University; MARIO A. DERIQUITO, League of Corporate Foundations & 57-75 Education Reform Movement; ARNULFO H. EMPLEO, National Association of Public Secondary School Heads Incorporated; RAMON R. DEL ROSARIO, JR Philippine Business for Education; CHITO B. SALAZAR, PHINMA Education Network; EDWARD I. LIM, Sarang Bangun Foundation; BENJO G. BASAS, Teachers’ Dignity Coalition