Recognizing the need for the Philippines to catch up in many areas of education—from the shortage of classrooms to the overall quality of learning—President Marcos reminded Filipinos that education is a right, and they have every reason to demand it.

Instilling this mindset in both the people and the government is what Marcos wants to achieve so that even after his administration ends, the people will know what they must rightfully expect and ask from their leaders.

"The education is one of those things that I hope we can get started in such a way na kahit wala na ako dito, kahit nawala na kami dito (when we are no longer here), my administration is no longer here, that this will continue...masanay ang tao (the people get used to it) so that it becomes a right. And if it is taken away from you, you can demand for it to be brought back," Marcos said in the last part of his podcast where he was interviewed by three college students.

He urged the people to learn to demand for any right that was taken away from them. 

"Karapatan namin 'yan magkaroon ng ganyan. Huwag niyong tatanggalin 'yan (It is our right to have that. Do not take that away from us). And that's what I want to instill in everybody. That's what I want to instill in government. That's what I want to instill in the people that it is a right. You can demand it. It is a right," Marcos stressed.

The President was talking about basic educational needs such as classrooms, equipment, internet, facilities, and access to various educational programs.

"Yung support natin sa teacher. Mga equipment, computer, wala tayong computer. Ang dami pang eskwelahan walang internet. Down to the toilet in the in the in the school. Hanggang doon kailangan natin kailangan natin ayusin lahat (The support for teachers. The equipment, computer, we have no computers. Many schools don't have internet access. Down to the toilet in the in the in the school. Up to that matter we need to fix)," Marcos lamented. 

'Give Filipinos opportunities, and they'll shine'

The President further lamented the country's ranking in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), admitting he was dismayed over the fact that the country is lagging behind. 

"Nadismaya ako (I was disappointed) to see the results of the Philippines in the grading ng STEM, especially stem subjects. E, we're in a technological world now. We're we're living in a technological world, highly-technological world. Ang hina natin sa STEM subject (We are falling behind in STEM subject)," Marcos expressed.

He emphasized that Filipinos are brilliant and are well-loved in other countries where they work.

'In other words, you give Filipinos a good opportunity, they'll shine," he said.

"That's why it's important na ayusin natin ang education para lahat ng Pilipinong magagaling, mabigyan ng pagkakataon na sumikat sila (to fix our education so that excellent Filipinos are given the opportunity to be known) whether at home, whether in government, whether abroad, anywhere," he added.  

"Basta't nabigyan sila ng magandang pundasyon, magandang edukasyon, kaya na nilang ano sumabak kahit saan. Makipagsapalaran sila kahit saan sa buong mundo (As long as they are given a good foundation, good education, they can excell anywhere. They take risk anywhere around the world)," the President further said.

The Chief Executive assured students that State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) are not being sidelined. 

"First of all, hindi napapabayaan ang SUCs (We are not neglecting SUCs). The budget for the maintenance and the continued operation of our SUCs is P185 billion. So, we're not hindi natin sinasabi (We are not saying) that we're not attending to the SUCs," Marcos said.

He explained that the rest of budget for education goes to primary education, citing that the country has incurred 160,000 classroom shortage over decades.

"Biruin mo (Imagine), we have 160,000 shortage of classrooms. How did that happen? Paano? If they built 20,000 classrooms every year for the last 30 years, wala tayong problema. So kailangan natin maghabol (we would have no problem. So, now we have to do catch up)," the President said.

"So we are spending it number one, of course, on classrooms. And we are finding all of the kinds of ways to build classrooms more quickly," he added.