Manila: The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) on Tuesday submitted to the Senate the proposed National Education and Workforce Development Plan (NatPlan) 2026-2035, positioning it as a unified roadmap to steer reforms across basic, higher, and technical education. Senator Bam Aquino, chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education and one of EDCOM II's leaders, formally presented the commission's final report titled 'Turning Point: A Decade of Necessary Reform,' alongside Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8, which seeks to adopt the NatPlan as the national government's policy framework.
According to Philippines News Agency, Aquino said the roadmap builds on recent gains, including record funding and landmark legislation, to ensure sustained reform. "Huwag natin sayangin ang oportunidad na ito (Let's not waste this opportunity)," Aquino said, urging lawmakers to ensure effective implementation of education reforms over the next decade.
Despite the positive momentum, EDCOM II cautioned that deep-seated challenges persist. The final report showed that only 30.5 percent of learners are proficient by Grade 3, with proficiency sharply declining to 0.40 percent by Grade 12, underscoring what the commission described as a continuing learning crisis.
Aquino said the findings reveal how low proficiency affects the entire society. "Kapag mababa ang proficiency, apektado ang buong lipunan (When proficiency is low, the entire society is affected)," he said, warning that weak literacy and numeracy limit access to higher education and employment.
The commission cited factors contributing to the crisis, including childhood stunting, classroom shortages, textbook gaps, teacher mismatches, and policies that pressure educators to pass unprepared students. EDCOM II stressed that without addressing foundational issues early, long-term reforms will fall short.
Still, Aquino expressed optimism, pointing to the historic education budget exceeding PHP 1.3 trillion, passage of key reform laws, and successful local interventions such as improved literacy outcomes in Iloilo province through strong local partnerships. "Historic problems need historic solutions and we already have historic funding," Aquino said, calling for a whole-of-government approach to translate the NatPlan into tangible improvements for learners, teachers, and families nationwide.
