Leading private education organizations are rallying behind the continued leadership of Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Francisco Benitez amid the recent Cabinet revamp by President Marcos.

With the ongoing Cabinet reshuffle, private school groups underscored the need for stable leadership at the helm of key education agencies.

In separate official statements, groups such as the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU), Unified TVET of the Philippines (UniTVET), and the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) voiced strong support for retaining both officials, citing significant education reform initiatives under their leadership.

The PEAC, where Angara concurrently serves as chairman, emphasized his commitment to strengthening public-private partnerships in basic education.

“His tenure has already brought key policy shifts that reinforce the complementary synergies between public and private educational institutions in addressing infrastructure gaps in the Philippine education system — chief among them is the strengthening of public-private education partnerships, and the review and expansion of education subsidies in basic education, with a renewed focus on equity and access in subsidy allocation,” PEAC said.

COCOPEA also credited Angara’s leadership for advancing the Public-Private Complementarity Framework, which aims to address education gaps through strategic collaboration.

“His approach has not only strengthened the relationship between DepEd and private educational institutions but has also laid the groundwork for systemic reforms aimed at improving learning outcomes for all Filipino learners,” the council said.

In light of these accomplishments and the ongoing need for stable and visionary leadership in the education sector, COCOPEA urged President Marcos to retain Angara in his current position.

PACU echoed similar sentiments, highlighting Angara’s deep understanding of education policy as a former EDCOM 2 Commissioner.

The association noted that Angara’s “reform-driven agenda” exemplifies the leadership DepEd needs.

“From prioritizing teacher training and support, to pushing for smarter resource allocation and infrastructure improvement, his policy thrusts are aligned with the real needs of learners and educators across the country,” PACU said. “Equally important is his firm commitment to transparency, accountability, and zero tolerance for corruption,” it added.

CEAP also underscored how Angara was able to address numerous challenges in the Philippine education system “in a remarkably short period.”

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Private school groups also expressed confidence in TESDA Director General Benitez, commending his “inclusive and visionary approach” to technical-vocational education and training (TVET).

PEAC commended Benitez for his “clear and inclusive strategy to modernize the technical-vocational education and training (TVET) system — focusing on access, industry relevance, employment outcomes, and lifelong learning.”

PACU also praised Benitez’s grasp of both the “systemic and human dimensions” of education and encouraged the President to allow him to fully implement the reforms he has initiated.

“We respectfully urge the President to sustain this momentum and ensure that Secretary Benitez is given the opportunity to execute the reforms he has begun,” PACU said.

UniTVET, representing tech-voc institutions nationwide, described Benitez as a “visionary leader” who is transforming TESDA’s role in national workforce development.

“Under his stewardship, TESDA is advancing critical reforms, strengthening linkages with industry, and placing Filipino learners and workers at the center of national workforce development,” the association said.