TO effectively address the country’s education crisis, Akbayan party-list nominee Chel Diokno urged the government to invest more and allocate at least six percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for education.
In a press statement, Diokno said the government allots only four percent of the budget for education.
Diokno, a human rights lawyer, echoed findings from a report by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) showing that while the country’s budget for education has increased to an average of 3.2 percent of the GDP in the last 10 years, it remains short of the education spending benchmark of six percent of GDP as recommended by the United Nations.
“If we want to address this education crisis and improve learning outcomes of our students, we must aim for the recommendation of the United Nations’ and make it at least six percent of our gross domestic product, and ensure that our money goes where it is supposed to go,” he added.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Akbayan’s Diokno urges increased spending in education.”