TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – The Senate has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the creation of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).
According to quality education advocate and Senator Win Gatchalian, the EDCOM II will ensure the pursuit of much-needed reforms to address the country’s education crisis. The bicameral conference committee report of the measure, now entitled “Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) Act,” resolved differences between House Bill No. 10308 and Senate Bill No. 2485. Gatchalian said it will undertake a comprehensive national assessment and evaluation of the Philippine education sector’s performance.
“This is to recommend transformative, concrete, and targeted reforms to make the Philippines both globally competitive in both education and labor markets,” the senator said.
Accordingly, the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will be observed on and assessed by the EDCOM II. “Sa pamamagitan ng panukalang EDCOM II, mabibigyan natin ng kaukulang pansin ang krisis sa sektor ng edukasyon, lalo na’t pinalala ito ng pandemya ng COVID-19. Kung nais natin iangat ang kalidad ng edukasyon para sa ating mga kabataan at tiyakin ang maganda nilang kinabukasan, hindi na natin maaaring ipagpaliban ang pagpapatupad ng mga kinakailangang reporma,” said Gatchalian, sponsor and co-author of the measure.
Moreover, it will also make recommendation for specific solutions on the education crisis in the Philippines. The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) will serve as the Research Arm of the Commission to produce data-based research and provide analysis in the formulation of education policy recommendations. Data has also revealed that 9 in every 10 Filipinos aged 10 cannot read or understand a simple story. This translates to a learning poverty level of 90.5%.
