VICE President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte told the graduates of the Montessori de San Juan to not forget the people whose sacrifices contributed to their success.

The Vice President was the speaker in the commencement exercise and moving up ceremony of Grades 6 and 12 students of the school.

The education chief also encouraged students to have fun while pursuing academic excellence.

“I want to remind you, as you enter high school, that you should be champions in two things: one, you should be champions in having fun. Pangalawa, you should be champions in making sure that you are doing good in school. Matuto kayong maging masaya habang kayo ay pumapasok at nag-aaral,” she told the Grade 6 graduates.

“Make sure that you choose a course or a field that you are happy about,” she told the Grade 12 finishers.

Duterte urged them to pursue higher education as it ensures the realization of their dreams.

Duterte shared her experience from visiting two schools affected by the oil spill in Pola, Oriental Mindoro, and the difficulty of students coming to school due to various circumstances.

“Kami sa Department of Education have been thinking of many ways to make sure na kahit nagtatrabaho yung bata — grade school, high school nagtatrabaho yung bata — we make it possible for them na makapasok sa eskwela,” she said, adding that there are options like blended learning for students to cope with discussions or the Alternative Learning System.

“These are just some of the realities facing the Department of Education. They are problems that we are solving through various government interventions and programs with the help of education stakeholders and local government units,” she added.