1st Maranaw woman tops licensure exam for teachers

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2016/12/19/1st-maranaw-woman-tops-licensure-exam-teachers-516017
• Tuesday, December 20, 2016

By Richel V. Umel

A GRADUATE of Philippine Muslim Teachers’ College (PMTC) in Marawi City is the first Maranaw woman in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) to top the licensure examination for teachers or LET.

Sittie Airah Farida Abdulhalim, 20 years old, who hails from Masiu town, Lanao del Sur is on top 5 for elementary level with a rating of 87.20 percent. After Abdulhalim, 147 elementary and 19 secondary board passers also came from PMTC.

The teachers took their oath before the Professional Regulatory Commission on Saturday, December 17.

Life struggles were never an obstacle for Abdulhalim. “I am the only child in our family and my father left us few days before my graduation day when I was in Grade Six in Ednu Abbas Integrated School in Masiu town, kaya di na ako umattend sa graduation ko (that’s why I did not attend my graduation). My mother Farida Hadji Alawi took care of me as she was my lawyer when I was oppressed, my mentor, guardian and my inspiration,” said Abdulhalim.

“After my graduation in high school my mother died. From then on itinuring ako ng mga aunties, uncles, cousins and the Mustafa family na tunay na nilang anak and at sila yung nag insist na mula yung namatay ang Mama sila na yung tumayong Mama ko at tinulungan ako (My aunties, uncles, cousins and the Mustafa family treated me like their own child and they were the ones who insisted when my mother died, they acted like my mother and helped me) until I finished my college degree in Education in Marawi City, during my review in Iligan City until I passed the LET,” Abdulhalim said.

“My experiences and challenges in life gave me more strength, courage with a brave heart to pursue my dreams in my education career,” added Abdulhalim. Abdulhalim urged President Rodrigo Duterte to help the Armm particularly Lanao del Sur and Marawi City, to resolve once and for all the ongoing armed conflict that triggered the unstable peace and order in Marawi City and the town of Butig in Lanao del Sur which displaced hundreds of families and school classes were temporarily stopped. “I am in favor of Duterte's plan to implement the Federalism particularly in Bangsamoro land for it will give the better opportunity to the deserving Muslim teachers to avail the teaching items and not for those who are not qualified,” said Abdulhalim.

By December 24, Abdulhalim will start her job opportunity offered by the Al Bangsamoro Topnotchers Review Center at the same time do some part time teaching at PMTC her Alma Mater in Marawi City.

Adulhalim is one of those students who joined the Bangsamro rallies held in Plaza Cabili in Mrawi City in pursuit to the approval of supposedly Bangsamo Basic Law and fought their right for self-determination.

PMTC President Hadji Datu Mohammad Agakhan Sharief said “in spite of these armed conflict, unstable electric power supply services from the electric cooperative, poor accessibility in internet connection due to telecommunication instability, we will continue to pursue our plans and program to sustain our high standard in education.”

The PMTC management tendered a “Kanduri” or thanksgiving for to the LET board passers after their oath-taking.

Aldulhalim has received a P50,000 cash incentive from the management. Sharief pledged P100,000 incentive for the examinee who could make it to the top for the next LET in 2017.