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Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2)

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Second Congressional Commission on Education
EDCOM II
AbbreviationEDCOM II
PredecessorEducation Commission of 1991
FounderCongress of the Philippines
Founded atPhilippines
TypeCommission
PurposePolicy research and reforms on the Philippine education system
Location
Executive Director
Karol Mark Yee, Executive Director
Key people
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Representative Roman Romulo, Representative Mark Go
Parent organization
Congress of the Philippines
Websitehttps://www.edcom2.gov.ph/

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) is a Philippine Congressional entity created by the 18th Congress of the Philippines.[1][2]

Members of EDCOM 2 pose during their Strategic Planning.

Overview and History

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The body was created by virtue of Republic Act 11899, which lapsed into law on July 23, 2022.[3]

The Commission is tasked to conduct a national review of the country's education sector after the COVID-19 pandemic exacted a heavy toll on learning.[4] Its primary goal is to recommend legislation and policies to address the "learning crisis" and improve the quality of education in the Philippines.[5]

The Education Commission of 1991

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The first Education Commission was established in 1991.[6] It was tasked with assessing the state of Philippine education and recommending reforms. The commission's findings highlighted issues like low investment, disparities in access, low achievement, and high dropout rates. These findings led to significant changes, including the "trifocalization" of basic education and the creation of CHED and TESDA.[6]

Results of international assessments

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The Philippines participated in the Programme for International Student Assessment for the first time in 2018.[7] The country scored the lowest in reading comprehension and the second-lowest in mathematics and science, among 79 participating countries.[7] A report by the World Bank also found that the Philippines’ learning poverty ranks among the highest in the Asian region, at 90.9%.[8] The country fared the worst among the ASEAN countries, with the exception of Lao PDR (97.7%) and Brunei (no assessment). This means that nine in every 10 Filipinos aged 10 years old need to be taught how to read and to develop their reading comprehension.[9]

The Commission was formed as a result of these international assessments, spurred by widespread calls to reform the country's education system.[10]

Composition

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The Education Commission is headed by four co-chairpersons who lead the Commission jointly - two from the Senate of the Philippines, and two from the House of Representatives.

In total, the commission has ten members, with five members from the Senate and five members from the House of Representatives.

Members

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The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) is composed of the following legislators from the 19th Congress of the Philippines:

Co-Chairpersons

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Commissioners

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New members of the Commission is expected to be announced once the 20th Congress of the Philippines is called into session.

Advisory Council

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The commission is guided by an Education, Legislation and Policy Advisory Council, selected by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives from a pool of recognized experts from the following sectors: the academe, the business sector, government education agencies, heads of LGUs, and from civil society organizations and development partners engaged in education. The members of the Council are:

Technical Secretariat

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  • Dr. Karol Mark Yee, serves as Executive Director of the EDCOM 2 Technical Secretariat

Publications and Outputs

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Year One Report

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The cover of EDCOM 2's Year One Report

On January 23, 2024, the commission published its Year One Report, entitled Miseducation: The Failed System of Philippine Education. The report highlighted the commission's findings in twelve out of its twenty-eight Priority Areas, following its first year of work.[11]

The report also contained 40 recommendations that target specific objectives by the commission.

Year Two Report

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The Commission followed up its first report with its Year Two Report, entitled Fixing the Foundations: A Matter of National Survival, on January 27, 2025. In the report, the Commission advocated for addressing "foundational learning deficits in early childhood and primary education".[12][13]

The cover of EDCOM 2's Year Two Report

Among the findings that EDCOM II highlighted are the shortage of principals in more than half of public schools in the country,[14] that most Grade 3 students were one to two years behind curriculum expectations during the foundational years of learning,[15] government support to only 1.03% of the best and brightest students in the country,[16] the dismal attrition rate in higher education institutions,[17] that 62% of high school teachers teach subjects outside their college major,[18] and that Philippine government spending on education still fails to keep pace with global standards,[19] with basic education receiving the lowest share in the budget, despite its foundational role.

Final Report (Upcoming)

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The Commission is set to launch its final report in the Fourth Quarter of 2025.[20] This is in line with RA 11899's mandate to "report to Congress its accomplishments on a periodic basis, its findings and recommendations on actions to be taken by Congress, the departments, and other government agencies concerned with education, and provide a final report at the end of the existence of the Commission."[21]

Other Publications

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  • Education Roadmap - Section 7 also mandates that the Commission's Final Report must "include a roadmap with clear key performance indicators and results framework to address the learning crisis". This is set to be included in the Final Report.
  • National Education and Workforce Development Plan - During a January 2025 meeting with President Bongbong Marcos, he instructed the Commission to proceed with the development of a National Education and Workforce Development Plan (NatPlan), a strategic initiative to align the nation’s education system and workforce with the rapidly evolving demands of a global economy.[22] The initiative is being co-developed with the Private Sector Advisory Council.[22] This is to be included in the Commission's Final Report.

Partners and Stakeholders

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EDCOM 2 has partnered extensively with academic institutions, civil society organizations, diplomatic missions, and government organizations to fulfill its mandate.[23] Select partners include:

References

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  1. ^ "[WATCH] In The Public Square with John Nery: Is EdCom II the answer?". RAPPLER. 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  2. ^ "The Second Congressional Commission on Education". EDCOM 2. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  3. ^ Chi, Cristina. "Bill creating EDCOM II lapses into law". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  4. ^ "EDCOM 2 to conduct full assessment of PH education system in next 3 years—Angara". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  5. ^ Magsambol, Bonz (2025-01-28). "Rappler Talk: 'Fixing the foundations' of an education system in crisis". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  6. ^ a b Cynthia, Ma & Bautista, Rose & Bernardo, Allan & Ocampo, Dina Joana. (2010). When Reforms Don't Transform: Reflections on institutional reforms in the Department of Education.
  7. ^ a b Juan, Ratziel San. "DepEd welcomes PISA results, recognizes 'gaps' in education quality". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  8. ^ Vera, Ben O. de (2022-07-23). "WB: PH 'learning poverty' among highest in region". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  9. ^ "The cost of illiteracy: Why the education system in Philippines is failing millions". DevelopmentAid. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  10. ^ Hernando-Malipot, Merlina (December 6, 2023). "2022 PISA results a 'clear indication' that PH education system is in 'worst state' --- PBEd".
  11. ^ "Edcom 2 releases Year One report". The Manila Times. 2024-01-31. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  12. ^ "PBBM to DepEd, EDCOM II: Work together to address gaps". SunStar Publishing Inc. 2025-02-04. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
  13. ^ "Fixing the Foundations: A Matter of National Survival". EDCOM 2 Year Two Report. January 27, 2025. ISSN 3027-9976.
  14. ^ Reyes, Dempsey (2025-01-28). "Edcom: Almost 25,000 public schools have no principals". inquirer.net. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
  15. ^ "Latest EDCOM 2 Report calls for systemic change in Philippine education". IDinsight. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
  16. ^ Serquiña, Mariel Celine (2025-01-28). "Half of Pisay passers unable to enroll due to limited slots". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
  17. ^ "Higher College Enrollment but Still High Dropout Rate in College Since Free Tuition Law". phkule.org. 2025-02-14. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
  18. ^ Chi, Cristina. "62% of high school teachers teaching outside their field, new report reveals". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
  19. ^ Magsambol, Bonz (2025-02-04). "Decades on, Philippines' education spending still not enough". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
  20. ^ "EDCOM 2 - The EDCOM 2 Final Report". EDCOM 2. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  21. ^ "Republic Act No. 11899". lawphil.net. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  22. ^ a b "Marcos wants gov't to develop semiconductor industry". www.pna.gov.ph. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  23. ^ "Partners". EDCOM 2. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
See also: Department of Education (Philippines), Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
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