AN EDUCATION advocacy group on Wednesday urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to turn his reform pledges into tangible action by boosting funding, decentralizing policies and fixing inefficiencies in the Philippine education system.
In response to the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) pressed the government to raise education spending to at least 6% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). It also cited the need for transparent and accountable budget management.
“We call on the administration to ensure a transparent and accountable education budget, alongside a substantial increase in overall investment,” it said in a statement. Every peso must be spent efficiently, and leakages and mismanagement must be eliminated to ensure resources reach the classrooms, it added.
PBEd cited the persistent learning crisis highlighted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which has warned that Filipino children are being held back by low educational outcomes.
Filipino students are five to six years behind their peers in countries with similar income levels, according to the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022. UNICEF’s 2024 findings also showed learning gaps in the Philippines, with students in the Bangsamoro region falling two years behind those in other parts of the country.
PBEd sought structural reforms and greater decentralization of education delivery. “We urge the President to empower those closest to the ground in order to solve deeply rooted education problems and rally behind decentralization.”
The organization pushed for better coordination among education agencies, improved teacher training and deployment systems and a renewed focus on lifelong learning that balances access and quality.
PBEd reaffirmed its commitment to work with the government and education stakeholders to ensure that education leads to decent work, productive lives and a stronger future for the country.
Meanwhile, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) raised concern over Education Secretary Juan Edgardo M. Angara’s order to hold make-up classes after recent weather-related school suspensions.
The group criticized the lack of clear guidelines and warned that the order could disrupt the work-life balance of both teachers and students.
“Without clear guidelines, such a blanket instruction may lead to confusion in the field,” TDC Chairman Benjo G. Basas said in a statement. “We believe that learning losses due to class disruption can be recovered through effective pedagogy and innovative approaches — without necessarily extending class hours or holding sessions on Saturdays.”
He urged the Department of Education to address more pressing, long-term issues affecting the education sector. The TDC is also seeking a dialogue with Mr. Angara to clarify the order and present on-the-ground conditions faced by schools and educators.
In his SONA, President Marcos acknowledged systemic deficiencies in the education sector and vowed sweeping reforms.
He promised to ease teacher workloads by digitizing administrative tasks and providing laptops, smart TVs, Wi-Fi access and SIM cards. He also announced plans to build 40,000 additional classrooms by 2028 to address severe shortages and overcrowding in schools. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
