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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Retain education leaders to sustain Philippine education reforms, Marcos urged

Retain education leaders to sustain Philippine education reforms, Marcos urged

PBEd calls on President Marcos to retain Angara and Benitez, citing crucial progress in education reform and inter-agency collaboration

Published May 23, 2025 01:02 pm

At A Glance

  • Amid calls for courtesy resignations, PBEd backs the reappointment of DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara and TESDA Director General Kiko Benitez to advance crucial education reforms in the Philippines
PBEd voiced firm support for the leadership of the country’s education agencies — DepEd, TESDA, and CHED — amid President Marcos’ directive for Cabinet secretaries to submit courtesy resignations. (Photo courtesy of DepEd)
PBEd voiced firm support for the leadership of the country’s education agencies — DepEd, TESDA, and CHED — amid President Marcos’ directive for Cabinet secretaries to submit courtesy resignations. (Photo courtesy of DepEd)
An industry-led advocacy group on Friday, May 23, expressed strong support for the current leadership of the country’s education agencies—calling on President Marcos to reappoint key officials amid his call for Cabinet secretaries to submit courtesy resignations.
PBEd backs Angara, Benitez amid Cabinet shake-up
The Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), in a statement, reaffirmed its confidence in Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Kiko Benitez.
The group praised their leadership for fostering “unprecedented coordination” between their respective agencies—a collaboration deemed crucial for advancing reforms in education, skills training, and workforce development.
“DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara and TESDA Director General Kiko Benitez have become a formidable tandem—bringing about an unprecedented level of coordination and collaboration between DepEd and TESDA,” PBEd said.
Importance of inter-agency education leadership
The group emphasized that this joint effort is vital in addressing the Philippine education sector's urgent challenges—including learning loss recovery and improving youth employability.
“This shared commitment to transforming the Philippine education system is essential to addressing the pressing challenges in learning recovery, skills development, and workforce alignment,” PBEd added.
As Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Prospero “Popoy” de Vera III nears the end of his term next year, PBEd urged President Marcos to appoint a successor who will continue aligning higher education policies with the evolving demands of the labor market.
“We believe that coherent and connected leadership across DepEd, TESDA, and CHED is crucial to unlocking the country’s full demographic and economic potential,” PBEd said.
Call for continuity amid education crisis
PBEd also emphasized that continuity in education leadership is critical to sustaining the momentum of reform, especially as the country navigates a prolonged education crisis.
President Marcos’ recent call for courtesy resignations among Cabinet members has stirred speculation over possible changes in key government posts.
However, education stakeholders like PBEd are urging the President to prioritize continuity and leadership stability in the education sector to avoid disrupting ongoing reforms.
“With the ongoing crisis plaguing the education system, PBEd remains committed to working with leaders who understand that fixing the system will drive economic growth and enable Filipinos to lead productive lives,” the group said.
RELATED STORY: 
https://mb.com.ph/2025/05/22/teachers-groups-on-marcos-bold-reset-reform-opportunity-or-political-ploy

Related Tags

Philippine education reform PBEd Sonny Angara TESDA CHED Kiko Benitez President Marcos education
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