MANILA – The Senate of the Philippines approved Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8, formally adopting the National Education and Workforce Development Plan (2026–2035) as the country’s official framework for long-term education reform.

Introduced by EDCOM II Co-Chair Sen. Bam Aquino, the resolution ratifies the recommendations of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), which aimed to address systemic challenges in Philippine education through a unified, evidence-based approach. Co-Chairs Sen. Loren Legarda and Sen. Joel Villanueva also filed a similar resolution, while Senators Win Gatchalian, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, and Kiko Pangilinan co-sponsored the measure.

“This resolution is borne out of a simple but difficult truth: the challenges facing Philippine education are systemic… they cannot be solved by piecemeal reforms, nor by politics that reset every election cycle,” Legarda said.

The resolution formally adopts EDCOM II’s Final Report, “Turning Point: A Decade of Necessary Reform (2026–2035),” which builds upon earlier diagnostic reports that documented long-standing deficiencies in the system, including “Miseducation: The Failed System of the Philippine Education” and “Fixing the Foundations.” The report emphasizes the need for policy continuity that transcends administrative changes, ensuring reforms remain aligned with evidence-based strategies.

Sen. Gatchalian highlighted the importance of a clear, long-term framework. “Our education sector has suffered from conflicting policies and programs that don’t last beyond a single administration. Without a clear policy, initiatives risk being diluted before the country feels their full impact,” he said.

The resolution outlines twenty priority actions, including:

• Ending mass promotion by fully implementing academic recovery programs, reviewing performance management systems, and phasing out the DepEd’s grade transmutation policy.
• Investing in the “First 1,000 Days” of learners, with expanded school-based feeding programs and early childhood education access.
• Closing resource gaps through public-private partnerships and school vouchers, and ensuring equitable internet connectivity for students and teachers.
• Supporting educators by reducing administrative burdens and addressing teacher specialization misalignments.
• Financial sustainability with a target to allocate at least 5% of GDP to foundational education.

The resolution mandates that all relevant government agencies—including DepEd, CHED, TESDA, DOH, DSWD, DILG, DOLE, and DBM—align their programs and policies with the plan. Congress is tasked with ensuring budgetary prioritization and oversight to guarantee the plan’s successful implementation from 2026 to 2035.

Villanueva underscored the long-term significance of the reforms. “By anchoring national education and workforce reforms on EDCOM II’s evidence-based recommendations, we invest not for ourselves, but for future generations. Ito po ay para sa pagpapataas ng antas ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas.”

The adoption marks the culmination of three years of research, consultations, and policy analysis, signaling a decisive step toward a strategic, sustained overhaul of the Philippine education system.