Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Wednesday reported securing the “basics” alongside gaining more partnerships for the Department of Education (DepEd) during his first 100 days in office.

In a speech at the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines meeting, he said the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. remain clear as they try to address the challenges in the “massive” education system.

“That is why in our first 100 days, we went long on our early bets. We made the curriculum more flexible to maximize the learning time of students. We created a PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) Task Force to prepare our students for the upcoming international assessment,” he said.

“We’re assessing our reading interventions and Senior High School curriculum. The President’s directive is clear: Secure the basics. Make students ready for work.”

He also cited the renewed focus on learners’ functional literacy and numeracy, improved initiatives to ensure the teachers’ welfare, and efforts for the timely procurement and construction of textbooks and classrooms.

“Our teachers need policies that give them more – more time to teach, more resources for their lessons, more salary in their bank accounts,” Angara said.

He likewise lauded the private sector, which he called their “accountability partners,” for partnering with the DepEd in learning management systems, sports programs, and infrastructure and resource financing, among others.

“In a cycle of leadership changes, they help ensure that programs continue. Time and time again, you have believed that DepEd is not one giant island,” he said.

The education chief, however, called for more support to push for digitalization and to make programs more accessible to learners in remote areas. (PNA)