UNIVERSITY presidents and school heads reiterated their support for the candidacy of Vice President ‘Leni’ Robredo and Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan in a video released by the group Schools for Leni-Kiko.

Citing the worsening education crisis and the challenges faced by many schools and students due to the Covid19 pandemic, the country’s top education leaders underscored the need for a “hands-on” leader who will confront the pressing needs of the education sector.

Among those who expressed their support were Ateneo De Manila University President Fr. Roberto C. Yap, SJ, De La Salle University Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC, Adamson University President Fr. Marcelo V. Manimtim, C.M., Technological Institute of the Philippines President Dr. Elizabeth Quirino-Lahoz, PHINMA Education President and CEO Dr. Chito B. Salazar and University of Baguio President Engr. Javier Bautista.

In a joint statement, the presidents lauded Robredo’s plans for education including the raising of the budget for education to 6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, unburdening teachers from administrative work, expanding access to education through scholarships and voucher programs and ensuring that there are jobs for all graduates.

Apart from her competence in effectively steering the Office of Vice President during the Covid19 pandemic, the education leaders also highlighted Robredo’s focus on the poor, her integrity and her consistent defense of the truth.

“We take this stand consistent with our responsibility to ensure that academic institutions serve as safe spaces for discussion and truth-telling while reminding our fellow educational leaders how our schools and universities served as bastions of truth during the years of the dictatorship,” the academe leaders said.

“We take this stand in defense of truth, as we share our resounding condemnation of historical revisionism, presenting the Marcos dictatorship as ‘golden years’ despite the human rights abuses, the censorship of mass media, and the underinvestment in education during those dark years,” they added.

More than 40 schools expressed support for the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem, including the De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, Adamson University, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines-Los Baños, University of San Beda, Silliman University, University of the Assumption, Centro Escolar University – Malolos, Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran, Marist School Marikina, Philippine Science High School System, Holy Angel University, PHINMA Education, University of San Agustin, Xavier School and Ateneo de Iloilo – Santa Maria Catholic School.