A SYSTEM-WIDE reform to address the learning crisis is just awaiting the signature of the Chief Executive, as both houses of Congress ratified on Monday the revival of the Education Commission (EDCOM 2).
With the EDCOM 2, legislators and stakeholders from the academe, business sector, civil-society organizations, teachers’ groups, parents, as well as learners can review then amend existing policies and legislation to address current gaps as a means to improve the quality of Philippine education.
In his plenary speech, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian cited that the country’s learning poverty level is at 90.5 percent, where nine out of 10 students cannot read simple text. He said that “a crisis of this magnitude requires no less than the most intensive policy review in the history of our government through the creation of [the] EDCOM 2.”
Senator Joel Villanueva also said that the EDCOM 2 is a “landmark bill, because it can pave the way for identifying a set of innovative, targeted, and coordinated policy reforms in education.”
Advocacy group Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) thanked the Senate and House of Representatives for ratifying the EDCOM 2 Bill. Aside from Gatchalian and Villanueva, members of the bicameral conference committee include Senators Sonny Angara, Grace Poe and Franklin Drilon, as well as Representatives Roman Romulo, Mark Go, Kiko Benitez, Fidel Nograles, and Stella Quimbo.
PBEd Executive Director Love Basillote expressed her gratitude to the 18th Congress for finally approving the bill: “We thank the chairpersons of education committees in both Houses of Congress…all the bill sponsors, the bicam members, all the legislative staff, education agencies, and fellow education advocates who poured in effort to craft the bill.
Basillote added: “This is indeed a crucial step forward in addressing the country’s education crisis and preventing the collapse of our education system. We call on President Duterte to sign this law for a better educational system all Filipinos deserve, the lasting legacy on education that we need.”
According to the PBEd, it has been more than three decades since an EDCOM was last called. The advocacy group said that it is now up to the president to leave a legacy that will build the competency of learners and future work force.