The Philippines’ Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) is urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to create a Cabinet Cluster for Education. The commission believes this move will improve coordination among education agencies and help address the country’s learning crisis.

EDCOM 2 Chairperson Senator Win Gatchalian said the current system, where the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) operate independently, creates challenges in implementing a cohesive education strategy.

“We need to ensure that our education agencies and other government institutions are headed in the same direction,” Gatchalian said in a statement. “A coordinating body under the guidance of the President can step in to address this.”

The commission pointed out that attempts to establish a National Coordinating Council for Education (NCCE) – including Executive Order No. 273 s. 2000, and EO No. 652, s. 2007 – in the past were unsuccessful.

EDCOM 2’s proposed Cabinet Cluster would sit under the Office of the President and include the participation of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and support from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

According to EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee, the lack of coordination between agencies has resulted in issues like training challenges for early childhood educators and teachers, difficulties in implementing senior high school programs and the development of a robust teacher pipeline.

“With a unified goal of providing quality education for all, the national agencies for education must come together,” said EDCOM 2 Commissioner Senator Koko Pimentel. 

“This Cabinet Cluster will ensure streamlined policymaking and aligned policies across the entire education system — from early childhood to vocational training,” he added.

EDCOM 2 believes the creation of a Cabinet Cluster is necessary to address longstanding coordination problems and improve the Philippines’ education system. 

The commission hopes President Marcos Jr. will consider their proposal before his State of the Nation Address on July 22.