The post of superintendent of the Negros Occidental Schools Division is now vacant with the retirement of Eva Belicena on Dec. 27, 2007.

Belicena yesterday said that under the law, government employees are forced to retire when they reach the age of 65 and Education Secretary Jesli Lapus did not grant her application for extension of service.

Until the appointment of a new school superintendent, incumbent assistant superintendent Frank Trio has been designated in an acting capacity, Belicena said.

However, she still reports to the Division Office to finish pending work that piled up during the holidays.

She said she considers her two-year stint as division head as the highlight of her profession, adding that teachers' promotion rate was high during her administration.

The assistance provided by the local school board to the improvement of the education system in the province made her task easier, Belicena said.

However, she noted that one of the critical aspects of education in Negros Occidental schools is the lack of seriousness to study among students and absence of support in their children's education from parents.

Belicena said that quality of teachers in the province needs improvement, especially in the oral communication department.

Mastery of the English language should be encouraged and teachers should take the lead to inspire the students, she said.

Belicena also disagreed with the pronouncements of Lapus that education in the country has deteriorated, saying that everyone did their best but apparently, their best was not enough*NAB

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