Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
Shared national responsibility: DepEd, CHED, and TESDA commit to fix the Philippines' learning crisis
Philippines
National
Shared national responsibility: DepEd, CHED, and TESDA commit to fix the Philippines' learning crisis
Shared national responsibility: DepEd, CHED, and TESDA commit to fix the Philippines' learning crisis
Education agencies unite behind EDCOM II roadmap to improve learning outcomes
Published Jan 30, 2026 07:07 pm
DepEd, CHED, and TESDA welcomed EDCOM II’s Final Report and expressed their commitment to unified reforms to address the Philippines’ learning crisis. (Manila Bulletin / file)
The Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have pledged unified action to address the country’s learning crisis.
In a statement issued Friday, January 30, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) said the commitment was made by the heads of the education agencies after it formally turned over its Final Report to President Marcos on January 29.
During the event at Malacañang, EDCOM II said the education leaders committed to implementing the National Education and Workforce Development Plan (NatPlan) 2026–2035 — a long-term roadmap aimed at reforming the Philippine education system and strengthening workforce readiness.
Officials from DepEd, CHED, and TESDA joined EDCOM II in Malacañang as the National Education and Workforce Development Plan 2026–2035 was formally launched, marking a whole-of-government push to improve learning outcomes and workforce readiness. (EDCOM 2 photo)
The report, titled “Turning Point: A Decade of Necessary Reform,” calls for a whole-of-government approach to dismantle fragmented policies and ensure sustained reforms beyond the current administration, EDCOM II said.
DepEd: Learning crisis needs whole-of-government action
EDCOM II said DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara welcomed the final report, describing it as an “honest and evidence-based picture” of the education sector’s challenges.
“The learning crisis is not a DepEd problem alone,” Angara said. “The roadmap is clear, but delivery will depend on how well the entire government moves together.”
EDCOM II said Angara acknowledged that while DepEd has already begun rolling out reforms, the report pushes the agency to accelerate efforts with stronger focus and discipline.
“The challenge now is execution — staying the course, aligning budgets and incentives, and holding ourselves jointly accountable for learning outcomes,” Angara added.
CHED: Fragmented solutions no longer enough
Meanwhile, EDCOM II said CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis described the report as a “compass” for the education sector, stressing that short-term fixes can no longer address deep-rooted problems.
“The education concerns the report identifies are not new,” Agrupis said. “While these concerns are not new, addressing them can no longer be postponed.”
“The report is explicit: fragmented interventions and short-term fixes will no longer suffice. What is required is coherence across agencies,” she added.
Agrupis also emphasized that coherent, inter-agency reforms are essential, noting that CHED’s strategic ACHIEVE Agenda aligns with the NatPlan’s long-term goals.
“Malinaw sa atin ngayon: ang reporma sa mataas na edukasyon ay hindi isang proyekto, kundi isang pananagutan (Reform in higher education is not a project, but a responsibility),” she added.
TESDA: Workforce readiness at a turning point
EDCOM II noted that TESDA Director General Kiko Benitez also underscored the urgency of preparing Filipinos for future jobs, calling the NatPlan launch a critical moment for workforce development.
“We are now at a turning point in our mission. We know that skills are the most valuable currency,” Benitez said. “Kaya todo-buhos tayo para mag-deliver ng Training to Trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan (That is why we are pouring everything into delivering Training to Employment for our countrymen).”
Benitez noted that workforce preparation is a shared responsibility across government agencies.
“Preparing the Filipino workforce for the future is not TESDA’s work alone; it is our shared national responsibility, and the time to act is now,” he added.
Historic education budget backs reforms
EDCOM II stressed that the three agencies are now tasked with operationalizing the NatPlan 2026–2035, supported by a historic P1.345 trillion education budget for 2026 — one of the largest in Philippine history.
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The education agencies, EDCOM II said, are also committed to strengthening the Education and Workforce Development Group to ensure joint planning, synchronized implementation, and shared accountability across sectors.
Key areas of immediate collaboration
Under the EDCOM II roadmap, DepEd, CHED, and TESDA will focus on several priority reforms, including aligning education with employment by bridging gaps in Senior High School, technical-vocational pathways, and teacher education; data harmonization through a unified labor market information system involving TESDA, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); and staffing reforms to address outdated human resource structures that have not kept pace with the expanded mandates of K to 12 and free higher education.
EDCOM II, a congressional body created under Republic Act 11899, is tasked with conducting a comprehensive national assessment of the Philippine education sector and recommending legislation to address the country’s education crisis and drive long-term reforms.
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