Top Issues Have Just Been “Cut and Pasted” Since 1990 – Gatchalian
Senators and Representatives forming the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) worked with experts to strategize how to solve the education sector’s peristent problems during the Strategic Planning Session held at the University of the Philippines, BGC Campus on Thursday, January 26, 2023. “The issues that we face today have just been ‘cut and pasted’ between 1990 and 2022”, Senator Win Gatchalian, EDCOM 2 Co-Chair, said in his welcome remarks, “EDCOM 2 is a big step towards leveling up the quality of education in the pursuit of its mandate”.
EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee led the event, with the assistance of facilitators from the Development Academy of the Philippines, Dr. Olivia Domingo, and Dr. Ma. Lourdes Rebullida.
Dr. Cynthia Bautista, UP Vice President for Academic Affairs, also presented a talk on “Understanding ‘Poor Learner Outcomes’”, where she discussed the detrimental effects of a weak education system on students.
Senator Gatchalian, Congressman Roman Romulo, and Congressman Mark Go presided over the planning session as Co-Chairs of the Commission. Also present were Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Sonny Angara, Congressman Pablo John Garcia, Congressman Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, and Congressman Khalid Dimaporo, as Commissioners of EDCOM 2.
Also present was the EDCOM 2 Advisory Council, including the President of the National Teachers College, Mr. Fred Ayala; Professor and Former President of Ateneo de Manila University Fr. Ben Nebres, S.J.; Dr. Cynthia Bautista; Dr. Chito Salazar, President and CEO of PHINMA Education and Philippine Business for Education (PBEd); Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) Executive Director Ms. Doris Ferrer; Former TESDA Secretary Irene Isaac; President of Civil Society Network for Education Reforms, Ms. Olie Lucas; and Executive Director of Synergeia Foundation, Dr. Milwida Guevara. Also in attendance were Councilor Corazon Raymundo, representing Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, and Mr. Rene Lopos, representing Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano. Representatives from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) also participated in the event.
The brainstorming session highlighted top issues plaguing the education sector, including the lack of focus on foundational skills, excessive administrative work for educators, uneven resources and budgetary constraints, and the disparity in the quality of education between socioeconomic classes.
“A lot of the problems that we face today are not new. [The Philippines has] been trying to solve them since the very first education reform commissions in 1925”, Executive Director Yee explains.
EDCOM 2 follows in the footsteps of the First Congressional Commission on Education in 1990, which was the basis for the formation of the DepEd, CHED, and TESDA.
Dr. Yee adds, “We have the benefit of learning from the previous commissions to ensure that EDCOM 2 succeeds”.
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Mga Mambabatas, Eksperto, Tinalakay ang Education Reform
Mga Nangungunang Isyu, “Cut and Paste” Lamang Galing 1990 – Gatchalian
Ang mga mambabatas na bumubuo ng Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) ay nakipagtulungan sa mga eksperto upang ibalangkas ang istratehiya kung paano lutasin ang patuloy na mga problema sa sektor ng edukasyon sa ginanap na Strategic Planning Session sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, BGC Campus noong Huwebes, Enero 26, 2023. “‘Cin-ut and paste’ lamang po ang mga problema noong 1990 and 2022”, sabi ni Senador Win Gatchalian sa welcome remarks, “Isang mahalagang hakbang sa pagtaas ng kalidad ng edukasyon ang pagtupad ng EDCOM II sa mandato nito”.
Pinangasiwaan ng EDCOM 2 Executive Director na si Dr. Karol Mark Yee ang kaganapan, sa tulong ng mga facilitator mula sa Development Academy of the Philippines, Dr. Olivia Domingo, at Dr. Ma. Lourdes Rebullida.
Nagbahagi rin ng ilang salita si Dr. Cynthia Bautista patungkol sa “Understanding ‘Poor Learner Outcomes’”, kung saan niya tinalakay ang masamang epekto ng mahinang sistema ng edukasyon sa mga mag-aaral.
Pinangunahan nina Senator Gatchalian, Congressman Roman Romulo, at Congressman Mark Go ang planning session bilang Co-Chairs ng Komisyon. Naroon din sina Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Sonny Angara, Congressman Pablo John Garcia, Congressman Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, at Congressman Khalid Dimaporo, bilang Commissioners ng EDCOM 2.
Naroon din ang EDCOM 2 Advisory Council, kasama ang Pangulo ng National Teachers College na sina G. Fred Ayala; Propesor at Dating Pangulo ng Ateneo de Manila University Fr. Ben Nebres, S.J.; Dr. Cynthia Bautista, Pangalawang Pangulo ng UP para sa Academic Affairs; Dr. Chito Salazar, Presidente at CEO ng PHINMA Education at Philippine Business for Education (PBEd); Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) Executive Director Ms. Doris Ferrer; Dating TESDA Secretary Irene Isaac; Presidente ng Civil Society Network for Education Reforms, Ms. Olie Lucas; at Executive Director ng Synergeia Foundation, Dr. Milwida Guevara. Dumalo rin sina Konsehal Corazon Raymundo, na kumakatawan kay Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, at G. Rene Lopos, na kumakatawan kay Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano. Lumahok din sa kaganapan ang mga kinatawan mula sa Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).
Umangat sa brainstorming session ang mga nangungunang isyu na bumabagabag sa sektor ng edukasyon, kabilang ang kawalan ng pagtuon sa mga foundational skills, labis na gawaing pang-administratibo para sa mga tagapagturo, hindi pantay at mga hadlang sa badyet, at ang pagkakaiba sa kalidad ng edukasyon sa pagitan ng socio-economic classes.
“Marami sa mga problemang kinakaharap natin ngayon ay hindi na bago. [Patuloy na sinisikap ng Pilipinas] na lutasin ang mga ito mula pa noong pinaka-unang komisyon sa reporma sa edukasyon noong 1925”, paliwanag ni Executive Director Yee. Ang EDCOM 2 ay sumusunod sa mga yapak ng First Congressional Commission on Education noong 1990, na naging batayan ng pagbuo ng DepEd, CHED, at TESDA.
Idinagdag ni Dr. Yee, “Mapapakinabangan natin ang mga nakaraang komisyon upang magtagumpay ang EDCOM 2”.
MEDIA NOTE: All interview requests related to EDCOM II should be directed to the EDCOM II Communications Office at [email protected]
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