Latest news with #SonnyAngara
GMA Network
15 hours ago
- Business
- GMA Network
170K SHS learners get TESDA certification as gov't shoulders NCII fees
Education Secretary Sonny Angara leads the formal launching of the Quality Basic Education Development Plan 2025–2035 on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria. The roadmap aims to overhaul the Philippine education system through decentralization, stronger public-private partnerships, and digitalization. MARK MAKALALAD/Super Radyo dzBB Over 170,000 Senior High School (SHS) students under the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) track have received free TESDA National Certificate II (NCII) certifications, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Tuesday. At the launch of the Quality Basic Education Development Plan (QBEDP) 2025–2035, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the government's move to cover the certification cost—previously pegged at ?1,500 per student—is a 'major breakthrough' for ensuring work-readiness among K–12 graduates. 'Libre po ito. Dati na kailangan bayaran ng ?1,500 kada estudyante kaya maraming hindi nakakuha ng kanilang certification. Ngayon, sagot na po ng gobyerno,' Angara said. (It's free. This used to cost ?1,500 per student, which stopped many from getting certified. Now, the government shoulders it.) TESDA's NCII certification is recognized by local and international employers and qualifies holders for various skilled jobs in fields such as electronics, hospitality, and construction. 'At sa ilalim ng bagong patakaran ng (under the new regulations of the) Civil Service Commission, SHS or Senior High School graduates are now eligible to apply for 1st level government jobs,' he said. This development aligns with one of the recommendations of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which emphasized improving the employability of K–12 graduates. DepEd is also embedding Dual TVET (DVET) qualifications into the SHS curriculum, allowing students to gain work experience while studying. This is part of a broader effort to 'blur the line' between schooling and employment, Angara said, and to address concerns over whether the K–12 program has succeeded in preparing students for the job market. The QBEDP 2025–2035 also lays out plans for improving learning outcomes, modernizing classrooms, and enhancing teacher support—recognizing that education is not just a right but an engine for inclusive growth. On Monday, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation Address (SONA 2025) touted major strides in the country's higher education sector, highlighting the expansion of TESDA scholarships, and financial aid for poor families. 'Dumami din ang nabigyan ng scholarship sa TESDA. Nito lamang 2024, higit pa sa dalawandaang libo ang nadagdag na mga scholarships para sa Tech-Voc,' Marcos said. The President emphasized that students from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) households will be given higher priority in entering college over the next three years. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
18 hours ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Angara vows to guard DepEd budget after P12-billion cut in 2025
With a national education roadmap now in place through the newly launched Quality Basic Education Development Plan (QBEDP) 2025–2035, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said that the Department of Education (DepEd) cannot afford another budget cut. 'So babantayan ang budget this year para di maulit ang nangyari last year,' Angara told reporters. (We will be closely watching the budget this year so that what happened last year doesn't happen again.) Last December, Angara expressed disappointment over the P12-billion reduction in DepEd's proposed 2025 budget, with P10 billion slashed from the department's computerization program. 'Sa amin, almost P12 billion yung na-cut. Karamihan o yung bulk noon na P10 billion ay para doon sa computerization program ng Department of Education,' said Angara, a former chairperson of the Senate finance committee that scrutinizes the proposed national budget. (Almost P12 billion was cut, with the bulk—P10 billion—taken from the DepEd computerization program.) The budget cut, Angara noted, could derail efforts to modernize classrooms and equip learners and teachers with digital tools—an essential part of the agency's plan to improve education quality and access nationwide. With the QBEDP setting a unified 10-year vision anchored on decentralization, partnerships, and digital transformation, Angara said success now hinges on funding the reforms properly—especially amid the rollout of internet connectivity, curriculum upgrades, teacher promotions, and expanded TVET certification for students. On Monday, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. acknowledged the challenges plaguing the Philippine education system, including learning poverty and infrastructure backlogs. In his fourth State of the Nation Address, he vowed to prioritize reforms and affirmed the government's commitment to increase investments in teacher support, curriculum upgrades, and digital tools. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
19 hours ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
DepEd eyes make-up classes after week-long suspensions
The Department of Education (DepEd) is planning to hold make-up classes following the week-long suspension of classes due to recent typhoons, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Tuesday. 'Yes, plano talaga natin mag-make-up classes dahil kung 'di natin gawin 'yan, masyadong malaki ang mawawala sa ating mga kabataan,' Angara told reporters in an ambush interview. (Yes, we're really planning to hold make-up classes because if we don't, our youth will lose too much.) Several regions in the country suspended face-to-face classes for almost a week due to heavy rains and flooding brought about by multiple tropical storms in July. The interruptions affected the academic calendar, prompting DepEd to explore flexible options to ensure students can catch up without overburdening them or their teachers. 'Depende na 'yan sa mga schools kung kailan. Pwedeng dagdag lang na oras sa weekdays, pwede rin gawin sa Sabado,' Angara added. (That will depend on the schools—either adding hours during weekdays or holding classes on Saturdays.) 'Ititingnan din natin ang schedule ng mga teachers dahil gusto natin nagpapahinga din ang ating mga teachers,' Angara added. (We'll also consider teachers' schedules because we want to ensure they still get proper rest.) DepEd is expected to release a more detailed guideline in coordination with regional and school-level officials, allowing them to choose the most appropriate schedule adjustments based on their specific situations. The push for make-up classes comes as part of DepEd's broader efforts to address learning loss in the wake of climate-related disruptions. With weather disturbances becoming more frequent and intense, Angara acknowledged the need for more flexible and resilient academic calendars. During the launch of the Quality Basic Education Development Plan (QBEDP) 2025–2035, Angara also emphasized the importance of looking after students who have fallen behind, especially through expanded interventions like the ARAL Remediation Program and Summer Catch-Up Programs. 'For the first time, klaro na po ang direksyon,' he said. (For the first time, the direction is clear.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos vows 40K new classrooms before end of his term
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has committed to building 40,000 additional classrooms before the end of his term as part of a major infrastructure push to solve persistent shortages in public schools across the country. In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Marcos said the government has already built nearly 22,000 classrooms in the past three years and will ramp up construction in partnership with the private sector. 'Sa tatlong taon, halos dalawampu't dalawang libong silid-aralan ang nabuksan na. Hihigitan pa natin ito, dahil talagang nakakaawa na ang ating mga mag-aaral. Hindi na dapat nabibitin ang oras nila sa klase dahil sa kakulangan sa classroom,' the president said. (In three years, almost twenty-two thousand classrooms have been opened. We will surpass this, because our students are truly pitiful. Their classes will no longer be cut short in time because of the lack of classrooms.) The pledge aims to reduce the country's longstanding classroom backlog, which has forced many schools to conduct double or even triple shifts, often in cramped or makeshift facilities. To sustain the momentum, Marcos urged Congress to provide consistent and sufficient funding for the Department of Education's (DepEd) school infrastructure program. The 40,000 additional classrooms, he said, are critical in improving learning conditions, especially as the country continues to implement learning recovery measures in the aftermath of the pandemic. 'Katuwang ng pribadong sektor, sisikapin nating madagdagan pa ng apatnapung libong silid-aralan bago matapos ang ating Administrasyon. Maglalaan tayo ng sapat na pondo para rito. Alang-alang sa ating mga mag-aaral, hihilingin ko ang buong suporta ng ating Kongreso," tshe President said. Education Secretary Sonny Angara earlier reported that DepEd is working with the private sector and local governments to accelerate school construction, with new modular classrooms also being deployed to disaster-hit areas. Advocates have long cited inadequate school infrastructure as a major barrier to quality education, contributing to learning loss, student fatigue, and lower academic outcomes. Meanwhile, Education Secretary Sonny Angara earlier said the administration is pushing to adopt a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to fast-track classroom construction — one of the few viable solutions that can scale up infrastructure without overburdening the yearly education budget. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
97% of new teacher posts filled — DepEd
The Department of Education (DepEd) has filled 97 percent of the over 21,000 new teaching positions funded last year, while 99 percent of the 5,000 new administrative posts have also been taken. The figures are part of the agency's updates as it marked one year under the leadership of Education Secretary Sonny Angara. This also comes in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directives on improving the education system, as stated in his State of the Nation Address. 'Mula sa simula, malinaw ang layunin natin na makinig, ayusin ang kailangang ayusin, at itayo ang mga kulang,' Angara said. (From the start, our goal has been clear: to listen, fix what needs fixing, and build what is lacking.) Teacher and school staff support The Education Department said it has taken steps to improve the working conditions of teachers. This includes the introduction of new career levels, Teacher IV to VII, and the reclassification of more than 2,100 school heads to principal positions. The department said these changes aim to strengthen leadership at the school level. The teaching supplies allowance was doubled to P10,000, and a medical allowance for teachers was introduced. For private school teachers, the annual salary subsidy is now P24,000, an increase of P6,000. The department also reported a reduction of more than 50 percent in paperwork requirements for public school teachers. Addressing infrastructure and connectivity gaps DepEd said it is working with private sector partners to build 105,000 new classrooms to address the national backlog. Modular classrooms designed for disaster-hit areas are also expected to be deployed by August. To improve connectivity in remote schools, the department is coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Energy (DOE), and National Electrification Administration (NEA). A public-private project, PSIP Connect, is in the pipeline to deliver digital devices, solar panels, and internet access to last-mile schools. Focus on early education and learning recovery The School-Based Feeding Program has been expanded to include all public kindergarten learners starting this school year. A new initiative called Project SIGLA will pilot digital health and nutrition tracking for students. Meanwhile, construction has begun on 328 Child Development Centers in the country's most impoverished municipalities. To address literacy challenges, DepEd cited gains in foundational reading skills through the Literacy Remediation Program and the Bawat Bata Bumabasa Program. These were implemented over the recent school break. Curriculum and system changes The revised K to 10 curriculum places greater emphasis on literacy and numeracy. A strengthened Senior High School curriculum, currently being piloted in 900 schools, aims to better align with academic and technical-vocational skills. Senior High School graduates are now eligible for entry-level government jobs under Civil Service Commission rules. DepEd said it also reduced the textbook procurement timeline from 451 days to 60 days, with printing and delivery now taking only 110 days. A digital supplier registry has been created to improve transparency. The department also plans to roll out Project Bukas, a new platform aimed at providing public access to DepEd data. The revamped Adopt-A-School Program and School Finder platform now allow private sector donors to directly support schools in need. To foster digital innovation, the Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR) has been launched. Other upcoming digital tools include Project LIGTAS for disaster mapping and Project TALINO for identifying schools with urgent needs. Despite these developments, Angara acknowledged there is still a long way to go. 'Marami pa tayong kailangang ayusin, marami pa tayong kailangang abutin. Pero habang pinagkakatiwalaan tayo ng taumbayan, hindi tayo titigil sa paglilingkod,' he said. (There is still much to fix and many objectives to reach. But as long as we have the people's trust, we will not stop serving.) As DepEd enters its second year under Angara, the agency said its focus remains on building a more inclusive and responsive education system. When President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2024, he issued a clear order to address the gaps in the Philippine education system as he lamented the 'poor reality' hampering young learners. Back then, the President cited international assessments revealing that more than half of students in Grades 6, 10, and 12 failed to reach the ideal proficiency levels, faring low in information literacy, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. Marcos thus declared that the national learning recovery program must proceed 'without the slightest disruption,' especially in basic education. 'Our system of education must be strategically calibrated to make sure that our youth are not only taught to become literate. But, it must also consciously develop them into problem-solvers, and into critical thinkers—hungry for success, ready for the future,' he said in his third presidential address. — RF, GMA Integrated News
