BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental — Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte visited two schools in this province, bringing laptops for teachers and sports balls for students.

Duterte first went to the Dominador Jison Memorial Elementary School in Silay City, where she met with schoolchildren to push for her advocacy on the importance of education as key to end the cycle of poverty.

“Kailangan nating mag-aral nang mabuti para makapagtapos. Mag-aral nang mabuti para may trabaho,” she told to schoolchildren.

“Maraming klaseng trabaho ang kailangan ng ating mga komunidad. Kailangan lang magtapos tayo ng pag-aaral,” she added.

She also gave sports balls for volleyball, basketball and soccer to encourage children to be active in sports.

At the M.G. Medalla Integrated School here, the Vice President also met with basic education and high school students to relay her message of how education can transform one’s living conditions and for them to become part of nation-building.

She also underscored the significance of continuing education despite adolescent age challenges like teenage pregnancy.

“Anong gagawin kung buntis na? Dapat itutuloy pa rin sa pag-aaral. Kung hindi nahihiya ang buntis pumasok, pwede pa rin. Basta huwag lang tumigil sa pag-aaral,” she told the Grade 8 students.

Officer-in-Charge Principal Herminio Remada, Jr. said students who get pregnant may opt to have regular, distance, or alternative learning modes.

The Vice President also turned over 29 laptops to the elementary school while 47 units were given to the integrated school.

Duterte also suggested to school heads to implement blended learning during calamities, and the shifting of classes to lower class size to ensure focused learning among students.

OVP MEDIA