The existing agreement between the Department of Education (DepEd) and online news outfit Rappler is officially over after the latter decided to have it terminated.
In a letter addressed to Rappler Chief Executive Officer Maria Ressa, Education Secretary Leonor Briones wrote that “consistent with Article 7, Termination Clause of the MOA between the DepEd and Rappler signed on May 17, 2017, we respectfully give notice that we are terminating the said MOA.”
DepEd did not indicate in its letter the reasons for termination.
According to the news organization, DepEd ended an agreement “involving the training of students and teachers in journalism and disaster management, as well as the creation of online platforms for them.”
Moreover, “The department’s decision came barely a week after government propagandists published malicious reports questioning its partnership with Deped.”
Rappler expressed disappointment over DepEd’s decision, saying that “DepEd chose to sacrifice the ideals of campus journalism to politics.”
In spite of this, Rappler said that it will continue to be “inspired by what endures in their partnership with various student groups and schools nationwide.”
(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 02/ 08 /18)