Work isn't Family: Neither Can Pretend to Be

The single sharpest fact in one or two punchy sentences. Who did what, where, when, and why it matters. Not a summary of everything — the one thing that makes someone stop scrolling. A reader who only reads this paragraph must understand what happened.

In the Philippines, one of the highest compliments Filipinos can give a workplace is to say that it feels “like a family.” For a long time, I thought that was the ideal. The older I get, however, the more I suspect that many organizational problems begin the moment we forget that work and family serve different purposes.

Take, for instance, the country's Department of Education, which oversees the nation's schools. Recently, several schools were shut down due to operating illegally. The closures sparked concerns over the welfare of students and the legitimacy of the government's crackdown on unregistered institutions.

The Department of Education's crackdown on unregistered schools is not new. In recent years, the government has implemented stricter guidelines for school accreditation, aimed at ensuring that only qualified schools operate within the country. But critics argue that the guidelines are too rigid, leading to the closure of many legitimate schools.

At the center of the controversy is Education Secretary Sara Duterte, daughter of the country's President Rodrigo Duterte. Sara Duterte has been a strong advocate for education reform and has pushed for the implementation of stricter standards for schools. Her stance has been met with both praise and criticism, with some arguing that it prioritizes the interests of wealthy schools over the needs of marginalized communities.

In April 2024, Sara Duterte introduced the Enhanced Basic Education Act, a new set of guidelines aimed at improving the quality of education in the country. However, the Act has faced opposition from several groups, including teachers' unions and community organizations.

The debate over the Department of Education's policies has left many students and teachers uncertain about their future. Some have expressed concerns over the impact of the closures on their education and livelihoods.

What happens next for Sara Duterte and the Department of Education remains to be seen. The situation is complex, with various stakeholders pushing for different solutions. But one thing is clear: the issue of education reform is far from resolved.

The government's education policies have significant implications for the future of students and teachers. As the debate over the Department of Education's policies continues, one thing is clear: the issue of education reform is far from resolved.