Press Release - Gatchalian hopeful PBBM will tackle education crisis, reforms in SONA 2024

Senator Win Gatchalian hopes that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) will tackle reforms to address the country's education crisis.

When President Marcos delivers his SONA, the Department of Education (DepEd) will already be under the leadership of Secretary Sonny Angara. According to Gatchalian, the SONA should be an occasion for the President to publicly give his marching orders on the basic education sector, which should include clear targets that the administration should accomplish until 2028.

"Umaasa ako na tatalakayin ng ating Pangulo sa kanyang SONA ang mga repormang kinakailangan upang iangat ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa bansa at tugunan ang krisis na bumabalot sa sektor. Mahalagang pagkakataon ang SONA upang talakayin ang mga kinakailangang reporma, lalo na't may bago nang liderato ang DepEd," said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

The President previously told the new DepEd Chief that he wants senior high school graduates to be job ready. To realize this goal, Gatchalian is pushing for the passage of his proposed 'Batang Magaling Act' (Senate Bill No. 2367), which seeks to align the senior high school program with market needs identified by industry partners and government agencies. The proposed measure also seeks to institutionalize free national competency assessments for the awarding of national certifications.

The ARAL Program Act (Senate Bill No. 1604), which Gatchalian authored, is included in the priority measures of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council. The ARAL Program seeks to provide a national learning intervention program, which shall include well-systematized tutorial sessions and well-designed intervention plans.

Gatchalian added that the Second Congressional Commission (EDCOM) will continue working with the administration to push for needed reforms.

Gatchalian umaasang tatalakayin ng Pangulo sa SONA ang krisis, reporma sa edukasyon

Umaasa si Senador Win Gatchalian na tatalakayin ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. sa kanyang State of the Nation Address (SONA) and pangangailangan sa reporma sa sistema ng edukasyon sa bansa upang matugunan ang krisis na