TAGUIG – The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) on Monday said it has submitted to Office of the President five possible names for the next Education Secretary.

These are Sen. Sonny Angara, Rep. Francisco Benitez, Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Director for NCR Jocelyn Andaya, DepEd Undersecretary Gina Gonong, and Fr. Wilmer Tria.

COCOPEA Chairperson Fr. Albert Delvo said they considered the person’s track record, education expertise, ability to advance partnership and complementarity between government and the private education sector, ability to address the crisis in education including the mismatch between the graduates and the jobs available in the market.

“We submit this to the wisdom of the President, and should he choose one from the list, we would be elated and we would appreciate it,” Fr. Delvo said.

COCOPEA said it hopes that reforms initiated by outgoing Education Secretary Sara Duterte, including the changes in the K to 10 curriculum or the “MATATAG Curriculum”, would be continued.

“It is imperative that we continue and enhance the trainings that we did to our teachers. Teachers’ training, it has to be continuing and progressive,”  Delvo said.

“The MATATAG curriculum, it is seen to decongest the curriculum,” he added.

TUITION HIKE

COCOPEA also noted that some private schools have requested DepEd for a 3 percent to 12 percent increase in tuition.

"To respond to inflation and financial difficulties faced by our parents, we can only apply for tuition increase for only 3 percent, 9 percent, 12 percent. I know for a fact that DepEd will not approve the tuition increase beyond 12 or beyond 15 percent," Delvo said.

The council insisted that private schools need to raise tuition now to improve services to students and increase the salary of teachers.

"The last time that they applied for increase was even pre-pandemic. It was really just about time for them to adjust these fees, because these fees are, contrary to public perception, these fees are intended really for improving the services, students services of the schools," Atty. Kristine Carmina Manaog, COCOPEA's legal counsel, said.

COCOPEA also hopes government would increase subsidies for students who want to enroll in private schools but could not afford the education expenses.

This is to address the lowering trend of enrollment in private schools since the pandemic.

"We recognize the right of learners and their parents in the education of their children. And parents have the option to send their children to either public schools or private educational institutions. That's their right," Delvo said.

"On the other hand, we are firm that the government should recognize its duty to support  these children, wherever they want to study," he added.