President Marcos bared his many plans for the education sector on Monday, challenging newly-installed Department of Education (DepEd) Juan Edgardo Angara to lead government efforts in producing critical thinking and problem-solving Filipinos.
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), the President emphasized the critical role of education in driving economic growth. He intends to implement comprehensive reforms to bridge gaps in digital access, improve teacher quality, and modernize educational infrastructure.
“We must harness the totality of the Filipino’s potential. Thus, for consecutive years, we have prioritized an increase in budget for the inclusive development of the Filipino. Not just in food, nutrition and health, but moreso, in their education and training,” said Mr. Marcos.
Recent assessments revealed that over half of students in Grades 6, 10, and 12 are falling short in information literacy, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. In response, the national learning recovery program must proceed without disruption, particularly in basic education.
The goal is to ensure that the Filipino youth are not just literate, but also skilled problem-solvers and critical thinkers, ready for future challenges. He acknowledged that this will rely heavily on enhancing the competence of public school teachers.
“This is now the challenge for our new Secretary: to ensure the recovery and improvement of the quality of education in the country, as soon as possible,” Mr. Marcos said, addressing Angara, who was present at the Batasan Pambansa.
“Every classroom that we build will be but an empty and lifeless structure without its moving force — the teacher… our teachers are not just perfunctory figures in our schools; they are the very foundation of our educational system,” the President noted.
Addressing the classroom and digital gaps with equal intensity, the government aims to equip all students with computers, smart TVs, digital books, and reliable internet access, incorporating digitalization and solar-powered schools into his education policy.
Mr. Marcos also promised to resolve the perennial textbook issue by streamlining the production process to ensure up-to-date and error-free instructional materials within a year. He likewise mentioned the improved allowances and benefit packages for state educators.
Further reforms include eliminating the so-called “Utang-Tagging” practice, which prevents indebted teachers from renewing their professional licenses, allowing them to continue teaching and earning a livelihood.
Funds have also been allocated to implement an expanded career progression system, offering two major career paths in teaching and school administration. This ensures that no public school teacher retires as a Teacher I, according to the President.
Mr. Marcos also highlighted international recognitions received by Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs), with 87 of them now ranked globally; 51 of these are public universities or colleges. He mentioned HEIs in Mabalacat, Pampanga and Samar among the most impressive.
“Relevant scholarships and R&D grants will continue to be available, aligned with our agenda to foster start-ups. To commercialize and mass produce R&D outputs, crucial support, such as intellectual property rights enforcement, and venture financing, have been put in place,” he said.
Enrollment rates in higher education and technical-vocational education and training (TVET) are likewise on the rise, with TVET boasting an 80 percent employability rate. The government aims to integrate TVET into the Senior High School curriculum to further boost student employability.
Further, the President said state-funded programs like Filipinnovation and Malikhaing Pinoy have sparked interest in innovation and creativity, driving progress in the information technology (IT) and creative sectors.
Mr. Marcos announced plans to establish TVET Innovation Centers nationwide, offering advanced training in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity.
The government’s commitment extends to ethical AI development and space technology, with ongoing projects like the MULA (Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment) satellite, set to be the country’s largest earth observation satellite.
President Marcos expressed hope that these initiatives will inspire the next generation of Filipino scientists and engineers to “reach for the stars.” –With Rolando Ng III
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “SONA 2024: Marcos challenges Angara to improve quality of basic education ‘asap.’”
