Noynoy denies cutting SUCs budget next year By Aytch S. de la Cruz 12/09/2010

Noynoy denies cutting SUCs budget next year

By Aytch S. de la Cruz

12/09/2010

President Aquino maintained his denials over the budget cuts his government has administered in the allocation for the state universities and colleges (SUCs) next year and has even told an audience not to believe everything they read or seen in the news concerning this matter.

Aquino has found an ally in the presence of children and child rights advocates yesterday when he attended the Children’s Hour Philippines (CHP)’s 10th annual benefit lunch held in Antel Lifestyle City, Makati.

In a speech he delivered at the event, Aquino promised that his administration will remain supportive of the children’s rights to quality education as accomplished by the 16 percent increase he allocated for the budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) next year.

Aquino explained that his decision to prioritize the basic education sector over the SUCs is rooted on the general principle “that half of the person’s ability to learn is developed in the first four years of life” as told by the Early Childhood Care and Development Council (ECCDC).

He relayed that the 2011 DepEd budget which amounts to P31-billion shall be distributed to address the resource gaps in the primary education sector such as shortages in teachers, classrooms, textbooks, and water and sanitation facilities in an effort to reinforce the delivery of basic education services in the primary and secondary levels..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20101209nat3.html