HOUSE appropriations committee chairman Elizaldy Co on Monday (Sept. 2, 2024) underscored the need for strategic reforms and increased support to the country’s education sector.
Co made the call during the budget briefing for the Department of Education, as he welcomed newly appointed DepEd Secretary Edgardo Sonny” Angara.
“It’s deeply concerning that Filipino students are lagging behind global standards in science and math,” Co said.
The Bicolano lawmaker cited the alarming results of the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), where the Philippines ranked third from the bottom in science and sixth from the bottom in both mathematics and reading among 81 countries.
“These results are a wake-up call. We cannot afford to let our students fall further behind. We must act now to address these learning gaps and provide our children with the education they deserve,” Co said.
“The education system is in urgent need of strategic calibration,” he added, echoing the sentiment expressed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his third State of the Nation Address last July. “It’s not just about literacy; it’s about equipping our youth with problem-solving skills and critical thinking that are essential for tomorrow’s challenges. We need an education system that does more than just teach – it must inspire and empower.”
Co also highlighted importance of reducing dropout rates and providing the necessary resources to remote and marginalized communities, as well as teachers who are the “second parents” of students.
There should be enough educators to teach the over 23 million enrollees in elementary and high school for school year 2024-2025, according to Co.
With a proposed budget of P748 billion, the DepEd represents the largest allocation in the National Expenditure Program, marking the government’s commitment to education as an investment in the nation’s future.
Co pointed out that this substantial budget is a reflection of President Marcos’ vision to strengthen the country’s education system and ensure that Filipino students are well-prepared for challenges ahead.
“Let’s support the President’s vision by helping the new Secretary fulfill his mandate, through endorsement of the Department of Education’s proposed 2025 budget,” Co said.
