MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said that he was hoping his successor would be more competent to address issues in the country after he steps down next year.
Duterte made the remark after the World Bank came up with an adverse report on the state of the Philippine education.
The World Bank has since apologized for publishing the data
without considering the Department of Education’s inputs.
“Kung may pera sanang marami then we could have upgrade in everything but we have not been able to work in our economy. Maganda sana umaakyat tayo. Hindi naman, not calls for celebration, it could sometimes give us the optimism to improve in everything,” Duterte said in his Talk to the People.
“But anyway we will just work on it, I hope the next admin will be more competent than us now. More bright than us now and more productive than us now,” he added.
Duterte said he would even cheer for the next administration.
“I would be on the sidelines giving inputs what I can provide for us an advice,” Duterte said.
Duterte praised Education Secretary Leonor Briones for demanding an apology from the World Bank, who released data that 80% of Filipino schoolchildren fell below the minimum proficiency levels.
He also expects World Bank will create a more “accurate” assessment of Philippine education system.
“I hope a more accurate report based on the latest data will be made. I’m sure that the Department of Education is working on new set of data to them so that they can correct the figures and data inputs,” Duterte said.
“On that note for that sake of transparency and policy direction, we would like to know the latest assessment, matrix of student performance and achievements as well as the latest national data and figures in terms of learning outcomes and learning especially during pandemic so we can identify which gaps we can address,” he added.
Duterte said that the DepEd was doing its best to “correct the misconception” and make sure it would provide data to World Bank to present an “accurate situation in the Philippines.”
Vice President Leni Robredo, over the weekend, asked the government to declare a crisis in education in order for it receive more support.
Briones opposed her call, as she lamented that the Philippines only joined the international education assessment in 2018.
Reporting by Letizia Tinoco
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