Makati City - President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on Saturday that he will take more time to appoint the next secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), succeeding Vice President Sara Duterte, stating the need to ensure the right candidate is chosen for the role.
According to Philippines News Agency, the decision to delay the appointment stems from the complexity of the role and the importance of selecting a candidate who can effectively manage the department's extensive bureaucracy and improve educational standards. "It turns out it's harder than I thought because we absolutely have to get it right. So, I'm giving myself more time," Marcos explained. He emphasized the dual necessity of educational expertise and administrative capability in candidates, reflecting on the challenge of reviewing many qualified individuals. "I've gone through so many CVs. 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 has to have those qualities that can galvanize this very, very large bureaucracy, which is the DepEd, and to achieve all of those gains, or all of those changes, to make the educational standard better," he said.
Marcos did not specify any candidates under consideration but noted that the feedback from various sectors has highlighted the need for a new secretary to be not just an educator but also an administrator and a historical professor. He reiterated the importance of addressing the country’s educational challenges, particularly in improving student and teacher performance. "Ang lagi naman natin tiningnan ang mga test score natin. We have to bring up the test scores. You all know that. So, you need an educator who understands how to help the students, how to help the teachers, number one," Marcos added.
The president also expressed his gratitude to Duterte for her service in the DepEd, acknowledging the difficulty of the role. Duterte, who announced her resignation on June 19, stated she has prepared a 30-day plan to ensure a seamless transition at the DepEd, although she did not provide a specific reason for stepping down.