Charles Teves
Vice President Leni Robredo cautioned the Department of Education (DepEd) about producing modules that would poison the public’s mind.
A DepEd module recently maligned Robredo. The presidential aspirant said she’d wait on the agency’s comment on the issue.
“Kasi hindi ko alam kung totoo siya. Nakita ko na, nakita ko na siya pero hintayin ko ‘yung DepEd to comment. Pero responsibility nila ito eh. ‘Yung DepEd dapat hindi nagpapalabas ng anything– not just because ako ‘yung nasa receiving end ng ginawa, pero kahit ano na magpo-poison sa minds ng mga tao, dapat hindi ‘yun pinapalusot ng DepEd,” Robredo said in an interview with reporters in Pangasinan.
“Kung totoo na naka-lusot ito sa Grade 11 na mga modules, gustong sabihin na napaka inefficient ng DepEd. Ito lang ‘yung pinaka-ebidensya na napaka inefficient nila na pinapayagan nila na ‘yung mga module na ganito nakakalusot sa kanila.”
Robredo on reports that her Pangasinense volunteers and supporters are being disenfranchised: Hindi ito first time na nangyari na hinaharass ang ating mga supporters. Pero nakikita kasi natin na (kapag) ginagawa ito, lalong nanggigigil ang mga supporters. | @krixiasINQ pic.twitter.com/s6brypIYXy
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) April 8, 2022
The Grade 11 module titled Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person asks the students to point out which among the choices has no grammatical error:
“a. Robredo Chides Government for Unclear Communication on New Quarantine Rules; b. Robredo Blames the Government as They Don’t Have Clear Rules in Quarantine; c. Robredo Charge the Government as Culprit for Confusion in Quarantine; and d. Robredo blames those in Executive Branch for Communication’s Unclear.”
Another question also paints Robredo in a bad light:
“a. “Drug war a massive failure”–Robredo; b. Robredo lies to the world, shames the nation and herself in UN message; c. The real albatross on Leni Robredo’s neck; and d. Let Leni plan on her own drug war.”
The DepEd has since apologized, explaining that the material wasn’t reviewed carefully.
“We admit that this module did not go through their conformance review — as it should — hereby placing mechanisms that should be followed in next productions, if any…. We sincerely apologize for any harm or inconvenience that this may have caused individuals or groups. This is definitely not the intent or the very purpose of the publication of such material,” it said in a statement.
“As an institution that fosters truth and academic freedom, we adhere to DepEd policies, especially on prohibition from engaging in any electioneering and partisan political activity. Furthermore, we continue to remain focused on our mission to deliver quality public service. We assure the general public, our stakeholders, most especially our parents and learners, that as we strive to provide better resources and avenues for learning, your child’s right to quality education shall be our top priority,” it added.
In a separate statement, the DepEd said it continues discouraging teachers and people of authority to become partisan in the country’s politics.
“[We] assure the public as well as candidates in the ongoing elections that we are exerting all efforts to warn our officials and personnel, including teachers, against participating in partisan politics,” the Education department said.
