Pasig City (13 August) -- Education Secretary Jesli Lapus cited today the key support provided by the Department of Education (DepEd) National Employees Union (DepEd-NEU) in achieving the targets of the department which got the second highest public approval among government agencies based on the latest Pulse Asia survey.

Lapus bared this at the start of the 2nd DepEd National Employees Union National Congress & Seminar Workshop at Baguio Teachers' Camp in Baguio City. The event drew over 600 participants comprised of union officers and members, administrative officers and other non-teaching personnel of DepEd.

While there is a continuing focus on upgrading the competency of the Department's teaching personnel, Lapus stressed that a parallel effort should be expended to improve the managerial, administrative and technical capability of our support sector – the non-teaching personnel.

He added: "The support our non-teaching personnel provide on the area of salaries and benefits, physical resources, health and welfare, security, support policies, systems and procedures as well as management cannot be over-emphasized."

The Department ranked second among government agencies in terms of public approval based on the July 2008 Ulat ng Bayan survey of Pulse Asia even as DepEd Secretary Lapus emerged as the cabinet official with the highest approval rating.

DepEd garnered 63 per cent approval rating. It was a marked improvement from its 61 per cent rating in August 2007, when it tied with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on top spot.

DSWD ranked first in the latest survey, with 65 per cent, while the Department of Health (DOH) ranked third at 61 per cent.

Lapus said that the improvement in the National Achievement Test results from 55 percent in 2006 to 65 percent this 2008 can be attributed to the hardwork of school administrators, teachers, as well as the non-teaching personnel.