Iloilo educator replaces outgoing DepEd-7 chief
A 59-year-old educator from Miag-ao town in Iloilo yesterday assumed her new post as director of the Department of Education (DepEd-7), replacing Dr. Carmelita Dulangon, who is set to retire.
Dulangon handed over the symbolic key of DepEd-7 to Dr. Juliet Jeruta during yesterday’s turnover ceremony at the regional office in sitio Sudlon, barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
When asked about her plans for the department, Jeruta said she will lessen the incidence of dropouts in public and private schools as well as improve the performance of students in the far-flung areas.
Jeruta said she will implement an intervention program for the families of potential dropout candidates and let them know the importance of education.
During the previous school year, DepEd 7 recorded a total of 14,124 dropouts in both the public elementary and secondary schools and another 1,800 in private learning institutions.
“I want to sit down first and get familiar with the environment. Although I’ve already noticed our dropout rates and the poor performance of our secondary students in some divisions,” she said.
“We should make parents feel that education is the competitive edge in the 21st century so their children, no matter how hard it is, should continue schooling,” said Jeruta.
Prior to her new assignment, Jeruta served as the OIC regional director of DepEd in Western Visayas for almost two years.
Jeruta said she will convene a team of school administrators and assign them to craft a special curriculum for students who missed classes due to calamities, such as typhoon Seniang.
The program will be implemented during summer vacation.
She said two subjects on disaster risk reduction (DRR) will also be implemented for grades 11 and grade 12 students under the new K-12 curriculum.
Dulangon, a Cebuana, advised her Negrense successor to treat her subordinates well and have harmonious relationship with them to achieve smooth operation of schools.
“We Cebuanos are not hard to love. I know she will not have a hard time here,” said Dulangon.
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