COTABATO CITY – Claiming widespread irregularities allegedly perpetrated by top officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the administration of its educational system, many local public elementary and secondary school teachers and lower-echelon education officials have strongly expressed desire to be returned to the folds of the Department of Education (DepEd).

In interviews, some mentors and school administrators in the eight ARMM schools divisions of Lanao del Sur I, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur II, Marawi City, Sulu I, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Sulu II, strongly complained against the “palakasan” system in the ARMM public school organization.

Speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation from superiors, the educators claimed that since Muslim Mindanao became autonomous, promotions to higher positions – such as schools division superintendents (SDS), assistant SDS, division or district supervisors and principals – have become a case of “whom you know” and seldom, if ever, of “what you know.”

A Maguindanao school head claimed the civil service eligibility requirement for teachers SDS and assistant SDS has been “wastebasketed” in the ARMM in favor of the “whom you know” syndrome.