Press Release - EDCOM 2 marks anniversary with release of Year One Report

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) releasedits Year One Report as it marks its First Year yesterday, January 23, 2024, following its official convening last year as mandated by Republic Act 11899.

"We learned many lessons since the EDCOM 2 started to fulfill its mandate of conducting its national assessment on the Philippine education sector. We know that the work is far from being over and while we are yet to uncover many challenges, it is crucial that we commit ourselves to the goal of ending the perennial crisis in our education system," said Senator Win Gatchalian, Co-Chairperson of EDCOM 2.

Entitled "Miseducation: The Failed System of Philippine Education", the Commission's Year One Report highlights its findings in twelve out of its twenty-eight Priority Areas, ranging from early childhood to higher education. The Report consolidates EDCOM's findings following extensive research as well as consultations, focused group discussions, and site visits all over the country in the past year. This is in line with the Commission's mandate to "undertake a comprehensive national assessment and evaluation of the performance of the Philippine education sector", as provided by Republic Act 11899.

To support the Commission in its diagnosis of the challenges that affect learning outcomes, EDCOM has also commissioned 90 studies with its partner organizations, including the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, the University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, and other scholars all over the country and abroad.

The release of the Report coincides with the report to the Senate, to be delivered by EDCOM Co-Chairperson, Senator Win Gatchalian, as well as its formal submission to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. Yesterday, EDCOM Co-Chairperson Representative Roman Romulo also officially reported EDCOM's findings to the House of Representatives, and presented the Report to Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Recommendations for education reform

The Report includes forty recommendations of EDCOM, including actions taken by the Commission in the past year.

Among its recommendations deals with the failure to permanently establish a coordinating