‘But let’s not get carried away with the positives. The reality is that the public education sector is facing significant challenges.’
AS we gear up for the 2025-2026 academic year, nearly 20 million public school students are set to return to classrooms across the Philippines on June 16, 2025. With 197 class days ahead, the Department of Education (DepEd) is once again under the spotlight.
Let’s start with the good news. The student-to-teacher ratio has improved significantly, now standing at an impressive 21.78 students per teacher.
This is a commendable achievement, thanks to the relentless efforts of Education Secretary Sonny Angara and his predecessor, Vice President Inday Sara Duterte.
Aiming for a standard ratio of 25:1 for elementary schools is a step in the right direction. Indeed, this ratio is not just a number; it translates to more personalized attention for students, better classroom management, and ultimately, improved learning outcomes. Who knows, the performance of our students participating in PISA might improve for the better as well? Secretary Angara is not just sitting back and basking in the glory of these numbers. He is actively pushing for transformative changes in the public school system. His initiatives are ambitious and much-needed:
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): The plan to construct 15,000 classrooms by 2027 under the PPP School Infrastructure Project (PSIP 3) is a game-changer. And with future plans to scale up to 30,000 and 60,000 classrooms, it’s clear that Angara is thinking big.
Digital and Solar Initiatives: Outfitting schools with digital tools and solar power isn’t merely innovative; it’s crucial. Supplying electricity to schools without power, satellite internet connectivity, and digital devices for students and teachers is a visionary step towards closing the digital divide. However, it’s important that social media and digital manufacturing companies block access to inappropriate websites to ensure a safe online environment.
Teacher Training: Enhancing teacher skills through various capacity-building activities is crucial. The collaboration with the PPP Center to offer in-person and hybrid training sessions, online modules, and self-paced e-learning is a testament to Angara’s commitment to quality education.
Overall School Infrastructure: The $1 million agreement with the PPP Center to streamline infrastructure projects is a strategic move that will ensure efficient planning and implementation.
But let’s not get carried away with the positives. The reality is that the public education sector is facing significant challenges.
The 2025 national budget saw a reduction of P12 billion for DepEd and P30 billion for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
These cuts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet; they have real-world implications. Larger class sizes, reduced resources, and limited access to higher education opportunities are just the tip of the iceberg.
The computerization program, which aimed to provide thousands of computers and gadgets for public school children, has been particularly hard-hit.
Similarly, the cuts to CHED’s budget have impacted state universities and colleges (SUCs), limiting their ability to expand and improve educational facilities.
And then there’s the issue of “crab mentality” among Filipinos, particularly those aspiring for higher government positions. This toxic mindset is dragging our country down and hindering progress in the education sector. The joint Congress’s decision to prioritize budget allocation to institutions like the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) under the education sector’s budget is a clear distortion of priorities.
While these institutions have educational functions, their primary role is to serve as training grounds for uniformed services, not civilian education.
Secretary Angara, the son of the late Senate President Edgardo J. Angara, has the potential to be “promoted” in the 2028 elections if he can successfully navigate these challenges. But he cannot do it alone. It requires a collective effort and a shift in priorities to ensure that public school students have access to quality education and resources. It’s high time for our political leaders to put aside their personal ambitions and work towards the greater good.
