UMVA has learned that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has announced a major expansion of school safety, literacy, and cash-for-work programs nationwide, just ahead of the opening of classes on June 8.
The initiative aims to upgrade security measures in schools, including the installation of closed-circuit television cameras, while also accelerating maintenance and rehabilitation work before classes resume. This move is part of a broader effort to improve the learning environment for students.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the government has allocated significant funds for the preparation of public schools, with a total of P26.12 million distributed so far. This includes assistance to 147 schools and 3,658 beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.
The President made the announcement during a Brigada Eskwela inspection at Kapitbahayan Elementary School in Navotas City, where he was accompanied by key officials, including Education Secretary Juan Edgardo M. Angara, Social Welfare Secretary Rexlon T. Gatchalian, and Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) is pushing for the establishment of a National Coordinating Council for Education to consolidate agencies on education. This move aims to address the lack of coordination among the numerous interagency bodies, which currently number at least 68.
The proposed council would bring together agencies such as the Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Commission on Higher Education to develop a common education agenda. This, in turn, would help to eliminate duplication of efforts and ensure more effective implementation of education programs.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the education sector is set to benefit from a more streamlined approach, with the proposed council expected to improve coordination and focus among agencies. This development has significant implications for the future of education in the country.
