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COTABATO CITY — Education Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal has welcomed over 1.26 million students in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Iqbal, head of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), one of the 15 primary ministries of the Bangsamoro government under the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), extended his welcome and greetings to the students, teachers, and other education stakeholders in the region as classes started nationwide on June 16.
In the Bangsamoro region, the students or learners, reckoned from 2023, are comprised of “1,119,391 students in primary education, 63,565 in secondary education, 55,172 in Madaris or Islamic education, and 20,195 in higher education, across 4,635 schools, including community learning centers.”
“A new school year brings new opportunities to learn, grow, and build a better future for ourselves, and our communities. I am hopeful that this year will be filled with meaningful learning, renewed commitment, and strong collaboration among all members of the Bangsamoro Education Community,” says Iqbal, who wears many hats in the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and MILF peace process.
He also expressed his thanks to the teaching and non-teaching personnel for their dedication.
“To our teachers and school personnel, thank you for your dedication. To our learners, study hard, aim high, and never give up. And to our parents and partners, let us continue working together to ensure that no Bangsamoro learner is left behind,”
Meanwhile, members of the BARMM Education Workers’ Network (EWN) have expressed slammed what they described as “disinformation campaign” versus the education ministry.”
“We, the members of the BARMM Education Worker’s Network (EWN), condemn the recent disinformation campaign against the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) peddled by various media outlets and social media platforms based on an unfounded accusation that the Ministry is selling teachers’ and learners’ kits. These are outright lies that undermine the credibility and professionalism of the ministry’s teachers and education leaders. These are plainly malicious in nature, aimed at destroying the Ministry’s overall reputation and undermining Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal’s integrity.”
Here’s Iqbal’s message:
“Assalamu Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
“As we open another school year, I warmly welcome all our students, teachers, and education stakeholders across the Bangsamoro region.
“A new school year brings new opportunities to learn, grow, and build a better future for ourselves, and our communities. I am hopeful that this year will be filled with meaningful learning, renewed commitment, and strong collaboration among all members of the Bangsamoro Education Community.
“To our teachers and school personnel, thank you for your dedication. To our learners, study hard, aim high, and never give up. And to our parents and partners, let us continue working together to ensure that no Bangsamoro learner is left behind.
“May this school year be safe, productive, and guided by the values of moral governance, inclusivity, and peace.”
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐧. 𝐌𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐌. 𝐈𝐪𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐁𝐇𝐓𝐄
“We, the members of the BARMM Education Worker’s Network (EWN), condemn the recent disinformation campaign against the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) peddled by various media outlets and social media platforms based on an unfounded accusation that the Ministry is selling teachers’ and learners’ kits. These are outright lies that undermine the credibility and professionalism of the ministry’s teachers and education leaders. These are plainly malicious in nature, aimed at destroying the Ministry’s overall reputation and undermining Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal’s integrity.
“Thus, the EWN declares its unwavering stance against any attempt to deceive the public, divide the Ministry, and tarnish the sacred profession of education workers for whatever ill-intentioned agenda of groups or individuals, which might lead to division and obstruct the path of development in the Bangsamoro education system.
“We stand in solidarity with Hon. Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal and condemn the shameless attempt to undermine the integrity of a leader whose entire life has been dedicated to the Bangsamoro people’s struggle for self-determination. We attest to his unquestionable reputation and integrity. We are confident that his dedication to the Bangsamoro people and commitment to providing quality education for all Bangsamoro learners will not be diminished because of unfounded accusations of corruption.
“We urge all education workers in the Bangsamoro and elsewhere to remain vigilant against disinformation aimed at degrading the ministry and generating division among its constituents and stakeholders. We urge every teacher, school leader, and education stakeholder, both within and outside of BARMM, to rally behind and support Minister Mohagher Iqbal’s leadership, as well as his policies and programs, which will transform Bangsamoro education into one that is “relevant and responsive to the needs, ideals, and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.”
“May Allah protect, guide, and strengthen us in our effort to promote moral governance and reform education in BARMM.”
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, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, as well as the Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) 63 barangays or villages — now eight new municipalities — 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. — Jigger Gomez (✓)