DepEd presents plans, directions to address education crisis in PH


The Department of Education (DepEd) reiterated its commitment to address and resolve the education crisis in the country during the meeting with the members of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) on Thursday, April 13.

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Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte (Photo from DepEd)

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte along with DepEd officials met with the members of EDCOM II to align priorities and agenda for the education sector.

“In order to ensure quality, accessible, relevant, and liberating basic education for our learners, we need to strengthen and sustain our collective efforts as a nation,” Duterte said.

“We still have a long way to go. We need to be resilient. We need to do more,” she added.

Aligned with its “MATATAG Agenda,” DepEd shared its plans and directions aligned to address said issues presented by the EDCOM II.

Among these include the launch of the National Education Portal, a recalibrated National Learning Recovery Plan (NLRP), and the incoming conduct of the National Learning Camp (NLC).

DepEd also presented updates on the expansion of the GASTPE coverage, the creation of the Government Assistance and Subsidies Office (GASO), the conduct of a tracer study of Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners, and ongoing consultations for the National Mental Health Program.

Members of EDCOM II and DepEd also met to fast-track efforts and set the targeted reforms for the education sector and discuss priority areas and issues to be resolved to address the education crisis in the country.

During the meeting, EDCOM II Co-Chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian highlighted the priority areas of EDCOM II, which include Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), basic education, teacher education and development, and governance and finance.

“Through EDCOM II, we look forward to working with DepEd in transforming the Philippine basic education system. DepEd and EDCOM II can leverage their respective strengths and expertise to improve our country’s quality of education. Together, we can fulfill our vision of providing quality education to every Filipino learner,” Gatchalian said.

DepEd and EDCOM II also sealed their Data Sharing Agreement through a Memorandum of Agreement before the meeting was adjourned.

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Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte along with DepEd officials met with members of EDCOM II on April 13, 2023. (Photo from DepEd)

Established under Republic Act No. 11899, EDCOM II is co-chaired by Senators Gatchalian and Francis Escudero; Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, and Baguio Rep. Mark Go.

The commission is mandated to undertake a comprehensive national assessment and evaluation of the performance of the Philippine education sector from 2023 to 2025.

EDCOM II commissioners are Sen. Pia Cayetano, Sen. Sonny Angara, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, Lanao del Norte 1st District Rep. Khalid Dimaporo, and Cebu 3rd District Rep. Pablo John Garcia.

For her part, Duterte welcomed suggestions from EDCOM II Commissioners and the Advisory Council in pushing for transformative, concrete, and targeted reforms to improve the country’s education system.