VICE President Sara Duterte on Saturday, January 21, said she will focus on teacher benefits, growth of learners, and rehabilitation and reconstruction of school infrastructure during her term as concurrent Department of Education (DepEd) secretary.

During her speech at the Aklan Ten Outstanding Mentors awarding ceremony at the Augusto B. Legaspi Memorial Sports and Cultural Complex in Kalibo, Aklan, on Saturday, Duterte honored teachers for their 'noble profession' and being mentors to children.

'Our dear teachers and mentors, you hold the key to our children's future, and I honor each and every one of you for your zeal, commitment and contributions to your community even beyond the call of duty,' she said.

According to the vice president, the DepEd is now talking to the Government Service Insurance System for a monthly updating of deliverables for the implementation of benefits for teaching and nonteaching staff.

She said they are now reaching out to the Department of Health to ensure that DepEd employees would enjoy free health checkups instead of the P5,000 allowance being given to teachers as a checkup allowance.

'Pinapakiusapan po namin at patuloy ang pakikipag-diyalogo namin sa Department of Health na gawing libre ang checkup ng teachers (We are continuing our dialogue with the Department of Health to hold free checkups for teachers),' Duterte added.

She said the DepEd is also reaching out to the Office of the President to provide additional benefits for teaching and nonteaching staff.

The vice president added that the DepEd is currently reviewing the K to 10 and Grades 11 to 12 curricula to ensure that graduates are immediately employable by sectors and industries.

In an earlier briefing, DepEd spokesman Michael Wesley Poa said Duterte will present her 'Basic Education Report' on January 30, which would highlight possible curriculum and other reforms needed by the education system.