Human rights group Karapatan assailed the resolution of the Department of Education (DepEd) – Region XI ordering the permanent closure of 54 Salugpongan Ta Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Centers in Davao Region.
“The permanent closure of the said learning centers is a denial of every Filipino child’s right to education. We are enraged by the DepEd’s decision to order the closure of the Salugpongan schools based solely on false accusations made by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon. This unilateral decision that did not consider the testimonies of teachers, administrators and students is an affront to the efforts of indigenous communities to provide education for their children. This government is once again choosing militarism over education, thus outrightly violating the right to self-determination by indigenous communities,” said Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay.