Playing with Fire
Benjie given a raw deal at education summit?
By Gonzalo Duque
WHAT’S this fuss about Mayor Benjie Lim being given a raw deal by the organizers of the education summit at the Salvador Duque Field House last Wednesday?
Sicayon talaga, amayamay kayon matetetew.
Up to this writing, a lot of people have been calling us to alleged broadcast reports that Mayor Lim was unceremoniously treated during a dialogue with Sec. Armin Luistro by education officials in Dagupan City.
The boil, it seems, is pointing to BSL as not seated with the big guns led by the top education official, APSCU president Macky Samson, Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez and others. He looked forlorn seated with the audience — albeit on the front row — daw.
We heard that Benjie had no part in the program. But he came to the summit, well, as “father of the city.” Well, that’s good.
But we wish to rectify whatever negative impression tan imagined scenario has stirred up.
That forlorn Benjie balita or rumor is false. Benjie enjoyed himself. He was accorded full courtesy and respect.
When it was our turn to speak as president of the host Lyceum Northwestern, venue of the meeting, we generously acknowledged BSL.
We understand no less than Vic Mayor Belen was very gracious in coming down from where she was seated in a gesture to escort the mayor to the presidential table. We were told that Benjie opted to stay where he was conveniently seated, and all this yarn about being given a raw deal, discourtesy and what-have-you is pure hogwash.
How about Dr. Macky? Well, it never occurred to our mind if it was he who engineered what appeared to be a snub on the mayor. But as we were saying there was nothing of that sort, because the dialogue went on smoothly. What was wrong was the biased perception by certain people probably to gain sympathy mileage for Mayor Lim. But look, he didn’t need sympathy at the time. He looked good and well. Naging bida pa nga ang dating dahil he preferred to stay with his own people.
But the summit was grand. It was attended by about 2000 delegates.
The education secretary carried himself excellently in explaining the new K + l2 (kindergarten to twelve) basic education curriculum, which will be implemented this June.
The two-day summit was attended by educators from Regions l, 2, 3 and the Codillera.
Talagan ambelat ya, mga agagui tan atateng. Ondokey so panayam na array ogugao ed escuelaan.
If you go back to what we’ve been writing about and advocating here, you’d discover that we’ve been fighting for concepts and practices — curriculum, if you please — that would strengthen the foundation of our students. It’s been a given that the main reason we are not producing outstanding college graduates who turn out to be unfit in their chosen careers is their lack of a solid foundation.
Kaya tama lang itong bagong education policy. In one fell swoop, we deal a deathblow to the curse of our youth’s mis-education. We share the analysis and faith of our education officials in correcting this malady.
Sec. Luistro said kindergarten classes will open this summer. Sicayo ran walay anak yon pan kinder, ag kayod tan tangay tangay ed Pozorrubio, pan enrol yo ra. Ompiano ag ira natilak ed biyahe.
He said that with the adoption of the universal kindergarten program last year, some l.5 million children were enrolled in public schools, plus 400,000 in private schools.
President Pnoy signed Republic Act 10157 or the Kindergarten Act – now a prerequisite for admission to Grade 1.
We expect that the new curriculum — a kindergarten program plus the additional years in our basic educational system – will now qualify the country to re-enter the circle of education greats worldwide. Our honored berth in the world’s roll of universities, we hope, will not slip out of our hands any more.
Let’s work for it.
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