Decade-long Overhaul is Needed to Fix PH Education Crisis – EDCOM 2

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has said that the country needs at least 10 years to address the deep-seated problems in the education sector.

EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee has said in a dzBB interview, “Kailangan po sa lalim na problema inipon natin ng halos tatlong dekada, we need at least 10 years. It is a decade of necessary reform.”

Yee has made the statement as EDCOM 2 prepares to submit its third and final report this month, which also contains a national education plan.

Included in the plan are recommendations on the number of additional teachers to be hired, and classrooms to be built.

For the past few years, according to Yee, there were deficiencies hence the need to add more funds.

Within two years, the EDCOM 2 will begin to be implemented by the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

EDCOM 2 has reported last year that the country faces a nationwide shortage of around 165,000 classrooms, and that about 85% of Grade 1 to 3 learners are struggling to read (a serious foundational learning crisis).