President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday said he wants Vice President and incoming Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte to look after the welfare of country’s teachers.

Marcos made this remark after Duterte revealed that the incoming President instructed her to review the implementation of the country’s K to 12 program.

He said he did not want to preempt the plans of the incoming vice president, but reminded her not to forget the plight of teachers.

“Ang aking laging pinapaalala sa kanya is yung mga teacher. Kailangan alalayan ang mga teacher, kailangan i-training ang mga teacher para maganda ang maging trabaho nila (I keep reminding her to look after the teachers. The teachers need to be guided, need to be given training so they would improve in their jobs),” Marcos said in a press conference in Mandaluyong City.

Aside from ensuring that teachers receive fair salaries and benefits, he wanted them to be provided skills training as well as teaching supplies and equipment.

“Ang mga teacher naman, ‘yan ang pinaka madaling turuan (Teachers are the easiest people to each),” he added.

Marcos said he also wanted Duterte to assess the current medium of instruction being used in schools.

“There was also the question of when we start to teach English…When we move from the lingua franca to English,” he added.

Marcos said there is a need to improve the quality of education in the country.

He also said he is hopeful that the country’s literacy rate would improve under his administration.

Duterte earlier said she would prioritize giving students quality education and improving the living condition of the teachers.

Outgoing DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones earlier said she and her team are eager to assist her successor in ensuring a smooth transition of priority education programs and policies, including the Basic Education Development Plan 2030. (PNA)