The House of Representatives adopted House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 31, a measure supporting the proposal for the creation of a Cabinet Cluster for Education to ensure the cohesive and coherent implementation of education laws, policies, reforms and regulations among the departments, bureaus, commission and offices in the executive branch of government.
HCR 31 also urges the Cabinet cluster be directed to formulate a long-term integrated national education and workforce development plan, agency-level targets and budgets, and monitoring and evaluation systems to address the learning crisis in the country.
House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chairperson and Pasig Representative Roman Romulo earlier explained that the creation of a Cabinet cluster for education would help address the learning crisis with a “unified” approach.
“When a system fails, the solution is not to add more layers of complexity. Instead, we must simplify.”
“When a system fails, the solution is not to add more layers of complexity. Instead, we must simplify, subtracting what is non-essential and focusing on building a strong, resilient foundation,” Romulo said.
“This initiative is not merely a matter of governance; it is about ensuring that every agency involved in education works in coordination, follows a clear policy direction, and understands the critical urgency of the tasks at hand,” the veteran legislator explained.
The envisioned Cabinet Cluster for Education shall be headed by a Cabinet member with a direct stake in education or a presidential adviser with the rank of a Secretary.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved in principle the proposed creation of the said Cabinet cluster.
Cabinet clusters ensure alignment, coordination and effective implementation of priority programs across specific sectors, including the assurance to serve as venues for the formulation, review and recommendation of policies, rationalize the use of resources within these sectors and facilitate and monitor the implementation of priority programs.
“He’d like us to fast-track some of the actions dahil nakikita niya ‘yung urgency.”
“In principle, he approves of it. And he’d like us to fast-track some of the actions dahil nakikita niya ‘yung urgency,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara explained in a briefing at the Palace.
“It’s a very deep-seated problem. Kumbaga, medyo matagal-tagal na na kailangang tugunan. Sabi niya talagang kailangan itong cluster,” Angara explained.
