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(SDN) October 5, 2023 — Bangsamoro education chief Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal has congratulated the over 900 teaching and non-teaching personnel who are now officially under the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE).
The MBHTE is one of the 15 primary ministries of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), comprised of six provinces, three cities, and 63 villages known collectively as the Special Geographic Area (SGA) in North Cotabato. SGA is under BARMM jurisdiction.
“I can imagine your feelings right now. It is very fulfilling and very gratifying. This happens only now, so many applicants, especially from Lanao (del Sur),” says Iqbal in his video message during the mass oathtaking held at Cotabato State University (CSU).
He said the new appointees may thank the BARMM government, Chief Minister Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim, and the MBHTE.
Iqbal emphasized that those who were not appointed, “we know what’s in their mind. Many are sad. Many believe in Allah. Just make ‘sabar’ (patience).”
Amid allegations of shelling out money for a teacher’s appointment, the BARMM official said before an applicant could be appointed, everyone has to pass through a minimum requirement, such as having the relevant course, appropriate Civil Service eligibility, experience, and training. Then, the applicants have to pass the oral and written examinations.
“Everyone went through the process. There is no cheating. I assure you, all of you passed. You truly passed a transparent process. I don’t know you. You really have undgergo the process (of selection),” Iqbal emphasizes.
The Bangsamoro education minister said he spent the best part of his life in the struggle for the Bangsamoro people, for Islam.
“Those who (commit corruption on Earth) go to ‘Naraka Jahannam’ (Hell).
“For those who are saying there’s irregularity, payment, bribery, I want to inform you I am creating a Special Committee to look into these allegations to ferret out the truth.
“We are not saying this is not happening. We are not saying this is happening. What I can tell you, we will arm the Special Committee with teeth to investigate and look for the truth. On the side of the Ministry, we will leave no stone unturned,” Iqbal assures.
He said assuming that it is not happening, it is still damaging because many people are riding on it, even if it’s a ‘maritess’ (rumor). “So, we cannot ignore it. It’s being repeated,” says Iqbal.
Meanwhile, he explained that being a cum laude graduate is not a “passport” to being appointed. “It is not guaranteed that you will be taken. You must have the relevant course, appropriate Civil Service eligibility, experience, training and (pass) oral and written tests.”
“If you are a cum laude graduate, maybe we’ll give some points, but not your passport (for appointment).”
Hiring of new teachers, construction of new school buildings part of education reform
Iqbal said that in return for those appointed, expected from them, officially and unofficially, is to promote belief in Allah through the teachers and the principals, promote moral governance. Work well, treat well (your learners), don’t collect (money).
“We know basically that our problem is (achieving) quality education,” the Bangsamoro official points out.
He said in many instances in the past that anyone who has evidence of irregularity in the hiring of teachers, all one has to do is come to his office in Cotabato City and report it and with evidence.
On October 2, over 900 teaching and non-teaching personnel, majority of them from Lanao del Sur, with appointees from Sulu, took their oath of office.
Under Iqbal’s leadership, the MBHTE has already hired thousands of new teachers and principals, as well as non-teaching personnel.
He has made it under his leadership putting in place education reforms in the Bangsamoro region through the hiring of new teachers, constructing of new school buildings to increase the number of classrooms, provide IT equipment and other education-related supplies, and helping teachers in times of their need, such as when calamities strike.
In May this year, Iqbal lead a top-level MBHTE party Sulu and delivered and distributed around Php67 million worth of IT equipment and other education-related supplies for some of the province’s schools division offices (SDOs).
Tawi-Tawi and Basilan followed the delivery and distribution of the assistance to schools.
Some observers said that hiring of teachers for financial consideration during the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was an open secret.
The Bangsamoro region, established in 2018 by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), is made up of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, as well as the Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) 63 barangays or villages that voted “Yes” in a plebiscite in February 2019 to be under the BARMM jurisdiction.
According to the Philippine Atlas BARMM has 4,404,288 people. It has 116 municipalities: Basilan, 11 municipalities; Lanao del Sur, 39; undivided Maguindanao, 36; Sulu, 19; and Tawi-Tawi, 11. Its component cities are Cotabato (the regional center and capital) in Maguindanao; Lamitan in Basilan; and Marawi in Lanao del Sur. — EDD K. Usman (✓)