PBBM to DepEd, EDCOM II: Work together to address gaps

The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) have reaffirmed their commitment to addressing gaps in the Philippine education system, following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.ducation Secretary Sonny Angara expressed gratitude to Congress and EDCOM II for their ongoing support, highlighting the importance of aligning efforts with the President's directive as the legislative body unveiled its findings for Year Two.
ecretary Angara, a former EDCOM II Commissioner, referred to the 37 priority bills in the legislative process, with five already enacted into law, including the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Law (Republic Act No. 12028) and the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act (Republic Act No. 12080).
t DepEd, Secretary Angara has led reforms aligned with the directive of President Marcos Jr. and EDCOM II's recommendations.e implemented Early Procurement Activities (EPA) for major but slow-moving procurement items such as textbooks, laptops, and other learning resources.he Department is also updating its policy on the procurement and quality assurance of textbooks and teacher manuals.
dditionally, the agency is prioritizing the revision of the Senior High School curriculum, reducing the number of subjects while ensuring they are more impactful, with a stronger focus on critical skills and knowledge areas.
o address classroom shortages, DepEd is accelerating the construction of 105,000 classrooms, beginning with a 15,000-classroom package currently being processed this year through Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
he Year 2 report, titled "Fixing the Foundations: A Matter of National Survival," provides insights and lessons on the priorities of the Philippine basic education system.he report emphasizes the need to realign priorities toward the foundational stages of learning, focusing on early childhood education, nutrition, and primary education during which critical competencies are built.t also seeks to strengthen the foundations of the education system, ensuring the adequacy of classrooms, prioritizing that all schools have principals and non-teaching personnel, and empowering them with the resources and support to effect change.
he report also highlights the impact of natural disasters on the education system, noting that more than half (53 percent) of 180 teaching days in school year 2023-2024 were lost to calamities and local holidays across the country.s of November 2024, students have already lost 42 learning days in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), 38 days in Calabarzon, 36 days in Cagayan Valley, and 33 days in the Ilocos Region.
hese findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reforms and support to address the challenges facing the Philippine education system.