Newly appointed Education Secretary Senator Sonny Angara has committed to improving the Philippines’ ranking in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and revamping the curriculum, all without requesting confidential funds.

Angara, who met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., told ONE News about the importance of PISA scores as a measure of educational quality. “The President emphasized the need to boost our PISA scores as they reflect the quality of our education,” he said. “So that will be one of our top priorities, alongside curriculum enhancement.”

Taking the reins at the Department of Education (DepEd) after Vice President Sara Duterte’s resignation, Angara has committed to upholding financial transparency in the Department. 

“VP Sara did not request confidential funds in her last two budgets. So I think we’ll also follow that direction,” he said.

Critics, including the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), have challenged Angara to address what they see as the shortcomings of Duterte’s tenure. They demanded the cessation of the pilot-testing of the MATATAG curriculum, stating it lacked thorough assessment and sufficient preparation such as teacher training and learning materials.

ACT urged Angara to act swiftly on multiple issues hounding the education sector. They suggested he issue a statement supporting a substantial salary increase for teachers and scrap the Results-based Performance Management System, which they believe does not help improve education quality. They also called for an end to red-tagging in schools, citing a Supreme Court decision that deemed the practice a threat to life, liberty, and security.

Angara, known for his work on education policy, has authored and sponsored numerous laws focused on quality education and youth empowerment while in the Senate. 

He also proposed a Senate resolution for the creation of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), serving as one of its Commissioners, and co-chairing the Governance and Finance Standing Committee.

Meanwhile, the Makati Business Club (MBC) congratulated Angara and expressed hope that his leadership will help educators prepare Filipino students for future challenges. 

“MBC looks forward to working with Senator Angara and wishes him all the best in this critical role,” the organization said in a statement.