MANILA, Philippines- Nagtipon ang isang activist youth group mobilized sa harap ng Department of Education (DepEd) Central Office sa Pasig nitong Biyernes, Hulyo 19– unang araw ng panunungkulan ni Sonny Angara bilang bagong Education Secretary.
Nagsagawa ng kilos-protesta ang mga miyembro ng Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) upang ihirit kay Angara na tablahin ang implementasyon ng “neoliberal measures” sa Philippine education system.
Sinabi ng grupo na kabilang dito ang foreign ownership ng higher education institutions sa panukalang Marcos Charter Change, bago ang State of the Nation Address (SONA) sa Hulyo 22.
Binanggit ng SPARK na si Angara, kaalyado ng Marcos administration, “has supported neoliberal” reforms sa education system at “strengthened the position of private education proprietors in the country” sa kanyang panunungkulan bilang senador.
“Angara’s track record in the legislature, particularly in the education sector, has only exacerbated the crisis through deregulation and privatization,” giit ni SPARK National Coordinator John Lazaro.
“Together with his push for Charter Change, he continues to be responsible for the dismal state of the nation: the systematic deprivation of public services to millions of Filipinos, especially the youth,” dagdag niya.
Anang SPARK, pinwersa ng “shortcomings” ng education policies ng nakaraang administrasyon ang mga estudyante at mga mag-aaral na harapin ang taunang dagdag sa tuition at iba pang bayarin, poor infrastructure at at iba pang may kinalaman sa education sector.
“Rather than creating an education system that can guarantee a sustainable future for Filipino youth, the current regime seeks to churn out students into meek sheep for the benefit of their allied local and foreign businesses,” wika ng SPARK.
“With the impending Charter Change, that process will only be made much easier, given the proposed foreign encroachment in higher education,” dagdag pa.
Sa halip umanong itulak ang “neoliberal” measures, binigyang-diin ng SPARK ang pangangailangang magtatag ng “free, accessible, quality, and safe education across the country, toward students’ complete and holistic development.”
“Elite interests have already resulted in an education crisis,” Lazaro said. “Surely, Angara must be aware of how much it can worsen should foreign proprietors enter this system. Enabling them to do so only means he is truly willing to sell millions of Filipinos’ futures away,” anito pa. RNT/SA
