Negros oriental: Residents in Negros Oriental have expressed their approval for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s plans and programs aimed at enhancing the country's education system.
According to Philippines News Agency, the President, during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), emphasized the development of the education sector with a focus on supporting the welfare of teachers and promoting learning recovery for students. Key issues such as health, technology, interconnectivity, wages, and infrastructure were also addressed. Dr. Juditha Mapue, assistant schools division chief of the Department of Education (DepEd)-Dumaguete Division, noted that some of the programs mentioned by the President are already being implemented in schools. However, Mapue emphasized the need for further advancements in these programs and expressed gratitude for the President's prioritization of education.
Marcos highlighted the importance of addressing issues such as bullying, mental health, and depression in schools, underscoring the need for more school counselors. Mapue shared that the DepEd-Negros Island Region recently launched the PEACE (Powering Empathy, Acceptance, and Connection Everyday) program to tackle bullying and create safer school environments. She stressed that addressing bullying is crucial because it impacts victims' attendance and learning abilities.
Mapue hopes for increased funding to create more plantilla positions for guidance counselors, as the current number is insufficient. The city division has only three guidance counselors, with the rest serving as designated teacher-counselors. The position requires licensed professionals with a master's degree, making it challenging to fill. Additional positions would allow the hiring of guidance counselors for different schools, which Mapue looks forward to.
Guidance counselors in the city division not only handle bullying cases but also assist senior high school students in making informed career choices. Analyn, a 16-year-old senior high student from Bacong town, expressed gratitude for the President's focus on bullying. She shared her experience as a bullying victim and appreciated the school's intervention, which prevented her from falling into depression.
Christine Ventura, a mother of three, thanked the President for the DepEd's literacy and numeracy programs, acknowledging the difficulty of teaching her children due to her own illiteracy. Ventura hopes her children will receive a good education and secure jobs that will improve their current life situation.
Mapue also found it encouraging to hear the President's commitment to providing more classrooms for public schools, addressing a long-standing issue for the DepEd. Regarding laptops for teachers, Mapue expressed the hope for better quality units, as previous allocations were of poor quality and involved in allegations of procurement anomalies.
