Cotabato City (July 30, 2019) – To discuss concerns regarding the Bangsamoro region’s education sector and provide updates on the new education ministry, the Bangsamoro government conducted a two-day educators summit.
The Ministry on Basic Higher and Technical Education convened over 300 school principals across the region to participate in this year’s educators summit.
“I hope that as our Bangsamoro government take off carrying the principles of morality and good governance, the educators shall also lead the way in promoting morality inside the four corners of the rooms and implementing good school-based governance,” said BARMM Chief Minister Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim.
Pacabimban Rogong, school principal of Datu Lantud Memorial National High School, said they are eager to attend the summit as it is an opportunity for them to voice out their concerns.
“Matagal na po namin na hinihintay na magkaroon ng summit dahil gusto namin maiparating ang mga kailangan at problema ng school namin sa bagong officials ng education ministry,” Marogong said.
Minister Mohagher Iqbal of MBHTE-BARMM emphasized that education is a top priority of the Bangsamoro government to establish, maintain, and support a complete and integrated system of quality education, which shall be a subsystem of the national education system.
“Let me emphasize that I do not intend to make radical or abrupt changes in the Education Ministry for the sake of doing something. The change we promised will happen, but it would be strategic and based on due diligence,” Iqbal said.
He also admitted that the education sector is facing numerous difficulties as well as resource gaps.
“I plan to introduce modalities within the Ministry that will ensure that we are serving our constituencies effectively and efficiently.”
He said that it is stated in the Bangsamoro Organic Law that the “Bangsamoro Government shall develop an educational framework relevant and responsive to the needs, ideals, and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people. For this purpose, the Bangsamoro Government shall conform to the minimum standards set by the National Government. The Bangsamoro Government shall institutionalize peace education in all levels of education.”
Some of the significant accomplishments of the ministry are the reshuffling of schools division superintendent assignments; revocation of designations made by previous administration; helping improve the region’s performance in the Palarong Pambansa; improving the salaries and employment status of MBHTE personnel; and establishment of monitoring and evaluation system, or MEMO System among others. (###)
