A controversy is brewing over a joint initiative of the military and the schools division office (SDO) of Aurora province regarding an information campaign among high school students against recruitment and infiltration moves of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Friday welcomed the information drive launched by the military in coordination with the provincial school officials.
But the militant Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines hit the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Department of Education (DepEd) Aurora Division and the 91st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. ACT described the information and education campaign as “red-tagging seminars” among Grades 9 and 10, and senior high school students.
“Providing information and education to the youth about local armed conflict is a critical step to keep them (students) from being deceived and recruited by terrorists and communists,” Duterte said in a statement.
Duterte justified the MOA) as an example of a “whole-of-nation” approach against armed conflict.
Duterte noted that they expect the information drive to be effective, yet gender-sensitive.
“We trust that our schools and their partners will efficiently implement the information campaign while still adhering to the Department’s policies on gender sensitivity, safety, and peacebuilding, among others,” she added.
Earlier, 91st IB commander, Lt. Col. Julito Recto Jr., who signed the agreement with SDO Aurora superintendent Dr. Catalina Paez, said they will ensure they will use a child-friendly motivation in delivering the message to increase awareness on recruitment activities by communist rebels.
“It is part of the DepEd’s vision of producing Filipinos who passionately love their country and whose values and competencies enable them to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to building the nation,” Recto said.
Paez also expressed her delight in securing a partnership with the Philippine Army.
The signing of the pact on Aug. 30 came ahead of the country’s commemoration of the National Peace Consciousness Month in September and World Peace Day on Sept. 21.
On the other hand, ACT chair Vladimir Quetua the DepEd was contradicting its own policy of banning extra-curricular activities while it puts into question the priorities of the agency’s current administration.”
“They prohibit other activities that can help learners’ holistic development, purportedly to give focus in bridging learning gaps, but it will allow soldiers to disrupt classes for their red-tagging agenda,” Quetua said.
“Andami-daming problema ng mga eskwelahan sa pagbubukas ng mga klase. Higit isang linggo na kaming pumapasok pero wala pa kaming naririnig na solusyon ng DepEd sa mga problema namin sa kulang na classroom, guro, kawani, silya, at kawalan ng malinaw na plano kung paano ibabangon ang edukasyon. Pero sa red-tagging, mabilis sila at mapagpasya,” Quetua added.
“We have attended many and very well know what those counter-insurgency seminars contain. They are shamelessly red-tagging and smearing legal and legitimate organizations, including our unions duly registered and operating in accordance with the pertinent laws,” Quetua pointed out.
“Combatants have no place in our schools which are supposed to be zones of peace and safe spaces for learning. These supposed counter-insurgency seminars can only sow fear among our learners, and teach them that dissent is wrong when in fact it is essential in a democratic society” Quetua stressed.
“Walang-saysay at pampagulo lang ang mga red-tagging seminar na ito sistema ng edukasyon natin na lubog na nga ngayon sa krisis. Sana ay unahing asikasuhin at pagtuunan ng pansin ng pamahalaan ang mga problemang balakid ngayon sa pagbangon ng edukasyon.”