MANILA, Philippines – Nagpasa ng concurrent resolution ang Senado at Kamara na nananawagan kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na lumikha ng Cabinet Cluster for Education upang matugunan ang education crisis sa bansa, sinabi ng Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) nitong Sabado, Hunyo 14.
Sa pahayag, sinabi ng EDCOM 2 na nagpasa ito ng concurrent resolution noong Hunyo 11, sa huling araw ng 19th Congress, para resolbahin ang umiiral na mga isyu ng functional illiteracy, kakulangan ng access sa quality early childhood education, at kapansin-pansin na mismatch sa graduate skills at pangangailangan ng industriya, maging ang kakulangan sa teacher development na tinukoy ng komisyon sa Year 1 at 2 reports nito.
Hinimok ni EDCOM 2 co-chairpersons Senator Sherwin Gatchalian at Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo ang pagtanggap sa resolusyon ng Senado at Kamara.
“Most of the issues reported by EDCOM2 – functional literacy crisis, challenges in senior high school, job-skills mismatch, and gaps in teacher specialization – stem from a lack of coordination among the various education departments,” pahayag ni Romulo.
“The Cabinet Cluster for Education will serve as a vital platform for these agencies to collaborate more closely, ensuring aligned efforts and unified direction under the leadership and guidance of the President,” dagdag pa niya.
Ang panawagan para sa Cabinet-level cluster ay naaayon sa direktiba ni Marcos noong Agosto 2024 para sa education agencies na lumikha ng comprehensive 10-year education at workforce development strategy, ang kinakailangang hakbang upang masiguro ang epektibong implementasyon ng estratehiya.
“With the persistent job-skills mismatch, underwhelming outcomes in senior high school, and the learning crisis revealed by EDCOM 2, a high-level, coordinated approach is crucial to help our students. This cluster will provide the strategic direction and coherence needed to ensure that every Filipino learner—whether bound for college or the workforce—is equipped with the right skills, knowledge, and opportunities to succeed,” ani EDCOM 2 Commissioner Rep. Pablo John Garcia.
Ayon sa EDCOM 2, ang inisyatibo ay nakatanggap ng mga pag-endorso mula sa key government agencies, education stakeholders, at experts, na sumusuporta sa panawagan ng “increased alignment” sa education sector at strategic allocation ng mga kailangan.
Samantala, ang bersyon ng Senado sa resolusyon ay inendorso ng EDCOM 2 commissioners, kabilang sina senador Gatchalian, Alan Peter Cayetano, Joel Villanueva, at Loren Legarda.
Inihayag din nina Pia Cayetano at Risa Hontiveros, ang kahalagahan ng pagpapabuti ng kalidad ng edukasyon. RNT/JGC
