MANILA, Philippines — The Senate and the House of Representatives have adopted a concurrent resolution urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to create a Cabinet Cluster on Education to address persistent challenges in the country’s education sector.

Passed on June 11, 2025, the last day of the 19th Congress, the resolution was pushed by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) following the findings of its Year 1 and Year 2 reports. The proposed cluster aims to improve coordination among education agencies and resolve issues such as functional illiteracy, lack of access to quality early childhood education, job-skills mismatch, and teacher development gaps.

EDCOM 2 Co-Chairpersons Senator Win Gatchalian and Representative Roman Romulo led the push for the resolution, calling for institutionalized collaboration among the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

A key finding from EDCOM 2’s Year One report, Miseducation: The Failed System of Philippine Education, pointed to limited success from over 100 inter-agency bodies formed since the 1990s trifocalization of the education system. Lawmakers said many of the current issues stem from the lack of coordination among agencies.

“The Cabinet Cluster for Education will serve as a vital platform for these agencies to collaborate more closely, ensuring aligned efforts and unified direction under the leadership and guidance of the President,” said Romulo.

The proposal builds on President Marcos’s August 2024 directive for education agencies to craft a 10-year education and workforce development strategy. Lawmakers said a Cabinet-level cluster is essential to ensure effective implementation of that directive.

EDCOM 2 Commissioner Representative Pablo John Garcia said the cluster would provide strategic direction to help address job-skills mismatch, senior high school outcomes, and the broader learning crisis.

The initiative has drawn support from various government agencies, education stakeholders, and experts. EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Representative Mark Go said the move would strengthen agency coordination, improve planning and investment, and better prepare students for stable, in-demand jobs.

The Senate version of the resolution was endorsed by EDCOM 2 Commissioners, including Senators Gatchalian, Pia Cayetano, Joel Villanueva, Loren Legarda, and Risa Hontiveros.