VP Sara slayed the gray rhino in the classroom
VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte slayed the gray rhino in the classroom last January 30 during the Basic Education Report 2023. This metaphor is with reference to an earlier column published last Jan. 20, 2023 entitled “The elephant, the rhino and the swan in the classroom.” https:// www.manilatimes.net/2023/01/20/opinion/ columns/the-elephant-the-rhino-and-theswan-in-the-classroom/1875005
The gray rhino, as quoted by Michelle Wucker, is used to draw attention to the obvious risks that are neglected despite — and often because of — their size and likelihood. Human vulnerability to cognitive biases within the comfort zone leads to the denial of the threat, then superficial muddling through rationalization to not do anything about it, until the problem is diagnosed, leading to panic in the face of frenzied anxiety amid the imminent crisis, towards, finally, action.
The gray rhino is now out of the classroom as the actions are bound to follow a clear direction amid the bumpy road ahead, as acknowledged by VP Sara. She is capitalizing, and takes the inspiration, on the resiliency of the Filipinos notwithstanding the vast challenges.
‘Matatag’ is not just a word
After an extensive report on the state of Philippine education, the “Matatag: Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa,” (Nation for children, children for the nation) agenda was launched. It serves as a guide to the new direction of the Department of Education (DepEd) and stakeholders in solving basic education challenges.
In the education agenda, Matatag is not just a word. It is a battle cry. It is an acronym with four critical components, namely: Make the curriculum relevant to produce competent and job-ready, active and responsible citizens; TAke steps to accelerate delivery of basic education facilities and services; TAke good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and Give support to teachers to teach better. (Complete text of speech at ovp.gov.ph)
How did VP Sara do it
She opened her report on a personal note. As a mother, she cited the experiences of her four children, then shifted to relay it with the 28 million learners. This broke the group-think bias that feeds the gray rhino. Earlier, after her appointment, there were criticisms about her qualification to lead the department that has the greatest number of employees in the government and highest budget, relative to the mandate of the Constitution. But the diverse perspective she can bring as a parent, former local government executive, lawyer and Mindanaoan hold the promise of innovation in the traditional nature of a DepEd populated by highly structured academic career-intellectuals.
She acknowledged almost all salient issues in education. She did not rationalize over the realities confronting the educational system and its outcomes. She was blunt in admitting that the Filipino learners are not academically proficient. She broke the denial. She neither engaged in sour-graping nor sweet-lemonading over the gloomy pictures of the current state of education. Her narration of the situation led to the diagnosis and pushed the panic button of the crisis. Her composure was intact amid the frenzied anxiety of many. She demonstrated her readiness and expressed her willingness to lead.
She used evidence and empirical data to drive her point. She may be reading but effectively communicating through the data that sounded intelligent enough to become the basis of essential policies and actions. She may be reading through a script but appeared very familiar with what she was talking about. She appeared and sounded very smart.
She has President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. beside her. The President expressed full confidence in her leadership but engaged a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
She has the support of Congress, obviously. The best proof of this is the speedy approval of the education budget amounting to P667.18 billion for 2023, including a P581.6-million allocation for special education (SpEd), P154.4 million for Indigenous Peoples’ education, and its requested but debated P150 million allocation for a confidential fund. The school infrastructure and resources, which was mentioned as the most pressing issue pounding the Philippine basic education system, will benefit from this influence of a secretary who is a vice president voted by 32 million (61 percent) Filipinos.
Her team is diverse and was introduced to the stakeholders. She has eight high-profile undersecretaries whose credentials and integrity are reputable. She even proposed to the audience to withhold their applause as the team is yet to deliver the result. She has put her team on the spotlight, along with the teachers whom she regarded dearly and highly in the entirety of her speech.
Coincidentally, she is leading the Education department in a period of time when the Education Commission 2 commences with the mandate to renew, assess, and evaluate the state of Philippine education and recommend innovative and policy reforms in education, of course, appropriating funds for it. The Matatag agenda resonates with the goals of Edcom 2, which is mandated to report through a roadmap with clear performance indicators and results framework to address the learning crisis.
Humility and authenticity
I was the nearest person to a vice president kneeling in front of the wheelchair of her predecessor, Secretary Leonor Briones, whom she met at the hotel lobby. For around five minutes, they exchanged not only pleasantries but also ideas. She guaranteed that the “Edukalidad,” the program of the former education secretary, is still there with some rebranding. Such humility can become the secret ingredient for her to successfully lead a highly educated team in an academic culture of the DepEd.
I have printed the speech which details the DepEd roadmap. I shall convert it to a yardstick that will measure the achievement of VP Sara’s leadership. I am not expecting the light at the end of the tunnel. I am expecting that we all can be the light in the tunnel. Beyond the tunnel are children and the nation that we should never, and cannot afford to, fail.