Philippine Education Faces Challenges Amid Reform Fatigue

The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), which represents 1,500 private schools in the Philippines, has raised concerns about "reform fatigue" in the education sector. They warned that ongoing reforms, particularly House Bill 11213 (Education Pathways Act), might harm the quality of education and affect student performance negatively.

COCOPEA called for a thorough review of the bill, which suggests significant changes to the K-12 program, including making Senior High School and Technical-Vocational tracks optional. They believe this could result in students leaving the education system prematurely, negatively impacting their future opportunities and going against the constitutional right to quality, accessible education. The group also stressed the importance of aligning the bill with the recommendations of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II). COCOPEA urged lawmakers to prioritize enhancing the quality of education over altering the structure of schooling, to address the country's gaps in global assessments like PISA and TIMSS.