EDCOM 2 to Unveil Year 2 Report on Philippine Education Challenges

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) is preparing to launch its Year 2 Report on January 28, which will delve into 16 of the 28 priority areas identified for the Philippine education system. This follows a comprehensive review conducted under the mandate of Republic Act 11899. The commission has pinpointed critical areas needing enhancement and has developed practical solutions to tackle the educational sector’s challenges. Throughout 2024, EDCOM 2 has engaged in extensive research, consultations, and dialogues across the country to fully assess the barriers to quality education. The public’s keen interest in the education system’s issues has been evident since the release of the first year’s report, ‘Miseducation: The Failed System of Philippine Education,’ in January 2024. Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee emphasized that the commission’s efforts over the past two years have been focused on diagnosing the complex issues affecting education. The first year highlighted critical issues like low early childhood education participation and a decade-long shortage of textbooks, while the second year continued these studies and supported the passage of crucial legislation. The Year 2 Report aims to address foundational gaps in the education system and propose reforms to resolve long-standing issues impacting students and teachers. It also covers findings on child stunting, school bullying, alternative learning systems, teacher specialization mismatches, and classroom deficiencies. Dr. Yee hopes the report will spark meaningful discussions about the future of education, emphasizing the importance of early childhood care and development, nutrition in the first 1,000 days, and literacy in early grades. The report is a synthesis of 97 commissioned researches and findings from 45 consultations, school visits, and hearings. On the legislative side, EDCOM 2 has facilitated the filing of 37 priority bills, with five already becoming law, including acts on enterprise-based education, mental health in basic education, academic recovery, the prohibition of the ‘No Permit, No Exam’ policy, and the suspension of the Mother Tongue-based Multilingual Education program. Additionally, 114 policy recommendations have been made to improve teacher welfare and student mental health. The report will be officially submitted to the House of Representatives on January 27 and to the Senate on January 28, and will be available for download at www.edcom2.gov.ph/#report starting January 28.