Bangsamoro Education Minister and Member of Parliament Mohagher Iqbal has vehemently condemned a new legislative proposal to dismantle the unified structure of the region's Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), arguing that it directly contravenes the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
https://www.luwaran.com/news/article/3178/iqbal-decries-proposal-to-split-education-ministryDuring a recent session of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament, Iqbal voiced strong opposition to Parliament Bill No. 47, authored by MP Baintan Ampatuan, which seeks to split the MBHTE into four separate and independent agencies.
Iqbal warned that such a reorganization would reverse years of progress in establishing a cohesive educational system. He stated that the MBHTE was intentionally designed as a single, integrated entity under the BOL to ensure a seamless transition between basic, higher, technical, and Madaris (Islamic) education. He argued that there is no clear legal, constitutional, or administrative basis for the proposal, and cautioned that splitting the ministry would result in administrative inefficiencies, funding gaps, and the potential marginalization of Madaris education.
Emphasizing that the current unified system represents a hard-won achievement of the Bangsamoro struggle, Iqbal reminded Parliament that past fragmented systems had failed to deliver culturally rooted education, often neglecting Moro identity and history. He declared that dismantling the ministry would betray the "blood and sacrifices" of those who fought for regional autonomy, asserting, "We will not allow the destruction of a system fought for and built by the blood and sacrifice of our history."
The debate surrounding Bill No. 47 underscores growing tensions within the BTA regarding administrative restructuring and the preservation of the original mandates outlined in the BOL. The outcome of this legislative battle is poised to shape the future trajectory of education in the region, influencing how the Bangsamoro identity is preserved in the classroom, and how the MBHTE can effectively fulfill its central role in upholding Moral Governance, the guiding principle of the BARMM.Bangsamoro Education Minister and Member of Parliament Mohagher Iqbal has vehemently condemned a new legislative proposal to dismantle the unified structure of the region's Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), arguing that it directly contravenes the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
During a recent session of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament, Iqbal voiced strong opposition to Parliament Bill No. 47, authored by MP Baintan Ampatuan, which seeks to split the MBHTE into four separate and independent agencies.
Iqbal warned that such a reorganization would reverse years of progress in establishing a cohesive educational system. He stated that the MBHTE was intentionally designed as a single, integrated entity under the BOL to ensure a seamless transition between basic, higher, technical, and Madaris (Islamic) education. He argued that there is no clear legal, constitutional, or administrative basis for the proposal, and cautioned that splitting the ministry would result in administrative inefficiencies, funding gaps, and the potential marginalization of Madaris education.
Emphasizing that the current unified system represents a hard-won achievement of the Bangsamoro struggle, Iqbal reminded Parliament that past fragmented systems had failed to deliver culturally rooted education, often neglecting Moro identity and history. He declared that dismantling the ministry would betray the "blood and sacrifices" of those who fought for regional autonomy, asserting, "We will not allow the destruction of a system fought for and built by the blood and sacrifice of our history."
The debate surrounding Bill No. 47 underscores growing tensions within the BTA regarding administrative restructuring and the preservation of the original mandates outlined in the BOL. The outcome of this legislative battle is poised to shape the future trajectory of education in the region, influencing how the Bangsamoro identity is preserved in the classroom, and how the MBHTE can effectively fulfill its central role in upholding Moral Governance, the guiding principle of the BARMM.