PASAY CITY, September 29, 2018 – Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones reminded around 4,000 education leaders from the central to the school level to keep pace with the continuous changes in the Department and to respond to these effectively.

The Education chief highlighted this during the 2nd National Assembly of Education Leaders convened by the Association of DepEd Directors (ADD) Inc. from September 25 to 27 at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.

Anchored on the theme, “Hold it in Trust: Leading in the Time of Industry 4.0,” the assembly aimed to provide education leaders the opportunity to strengthen their capabilities in achieving the goals of the K to 12 Basic Education Program.

In her keynote speech on the various aspects of leadership, Briones said, “Leadership is an ability, a gift, a blessing, which is the key to successfully mobilize human, material, and financial resources to achieve the goals of an organization, a movement, or a ‘camping.’”

She also iterated that leaders must have sound relationship and maintain good communication with their constituents: “Leaders have to know how to communicate change effectively with peers and subordinates. Cascade to those under you such changes… Be a servant leader!”

The Secretary underscored to the education leaders anew: “Public service is not about power and getting rich. It is all about suffering – financially, physically, and psychologically. It is all about attacks from all corners. But it is also joy – the joy of introducing reforms, the joy of touching people and the joy of teaching them new ways of thinking and of serving our people.”

The topics tackled in the plenary sessions were leadership in the digital age; leadership as stewardship; leadership and public accountability; integrity as the cornerstone of leadership; trust in leadership: why it matters; and key elements that make for a good public servant.

Furthermore, Bureau of Curriculum Development (BCD) Director and ADD President Jocelyn Andaya stated, “As we implement the K to 12 program, we cannot prefer to remain isolated and detached from national and global issues. We must engage the external environment and remain collaborative and proactive so that our decisions remain sound, responsive, and greatly beneficial to the Filipino learners.”

“We need to be reminded to remain rooted and true to the very core of our leadership position, and that is, the position we have is only held in trust. If that is our mindset, and this is ingrained in us, then, it behooves us to comport ourselves with dignity, exhibit integrity, and exude professionalism, while consciously nurturing the people in our organization so that we are worthy of the trust reposed upon us,” she concluded.

This event is pursuant to the DepEd Memorandum No. 116, series of 2018, or the National Assembly of Education Leaders, which is available online at http://www.deped.gov.ph/2018/07/09/july-9-2018-dm-116-s-2018.

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