10-year roadmap aims to address malnutrition, classroom shortage in Philippine schools

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) formally submitted its final report, “Turning Point: A Decade of Necessary Reform,” and launched the National Education and Workforce Development Plan (NAT Plan) 2026–2035 during the Senate plenary session on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

The 10-year roadmap seeks to address what lawmakers described as a “deep-seated crisis” in the country’s education system by improving learning outcomes and strengthening workforce readiness through a whole-of-nation, whole-of-government approach.

The report cites major deficiencies in student proficiency, school infrastructure, and teacher support, and outlines reforms across all levels of education.

For early childhood education, the plan prioritizes nutrition interventions to combat malnutrition and stunting. At the junior high school level, it aims to reduce classroom shortages, expand access to free internet and textbooks, and accelerate school construction, with 25,000 classrooms targeted for 2026—up sharply from the 99 completed in 2025.

In senior high school and technical-vocational education, the roadmap pushes for stronger linkages between schools and employment, while higher education reforms focus on ensuring the effective implementation of free college education to help graduates obtain stable jobs.

The framework also underscores the need for greater support for teachers, curriculum updates to address learning gaps, and stronger data-driven accountability at the local level.

Sen. Bam Aquino, chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education,  stressed that the crisis is not the fault of any single institution but the result of years of neglect. With the NAT Plan now on the table, Aquino said the next decade will be critical in determining whether Filipino youth can finally be equipped with the skills needed for the future.

Senator Joel Villanueva, a commissioner of EDCOM II, underscored the need for sustained education reform as the body submitted its final report, “Turning Point: A Decade of Necessary Reforms,” to the Senate on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

Villanueva stressed that reforms must endure beyond political terms to build a globally competitive Filipino workforce.

He enumerated the legislative measures he championed and had already enacted from the commission’s work, including the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Act, the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program, and the Lifelong Learning Development Framework Act.

“The report is a call to action, from analysis to implementation, and from fragmented initiatives to a coherent national direction,” Villanueva said.

Sen. Loren Legarda called for urgent and sustained education reform since the report revealed severe learning gaps, with nearly half of Grade 3 learners unable to read at grade level, proficiency collapsing to 0.40 percent by Grade 12, and widespread issues in nutrition, infrastructure, teacher support, and outdated curricula.

Legarda urged unity and persistence, stressing that the extension of EDCOM II’s mandate until 2027 is essential to deliver long-term solutions and build an education system that truly lifts every Filipino child.

Sen. Win Gatchalian called on his colleagues in the Senate to ensure that education reforms transcend political cycles and remain focused on the needs of learners.

“Education cannot restart every three to six years,” Gatchalian said, warning against shortcuts and fragmented solutions.

He emphasized that the government has already taken a crucial step by approving the largest education budget in history worth ₱1.34 trillion, equivalent to 4.35 percent of GDP, meeting the benchmark set by UNESCO.

Gatchalian said the challenge now is to sustain this level of funding and direct it toward the right priorities to secure lasting improvements in the country’s education system.