Senate divides Committee on Education into two panels

The Senate on Wednesday decided to divide its Committee on Education— one on basic education, arts, and culture,  and another on higher, technical, vocational education.

The new Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture will be chaired by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian while Senator Joel Villanueva will chair the new Committee on Higher, Technical, Vocational Education.

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said among the reasons for the splitting of the committee was the wide scope of concern that it had to be tackled

“The jurisdiction of the committee on education is too broad and basically education is divided into two concerns or sub-sectors, the basic and higher education,” Zubiri said.

He said the Senate also needed to align with the House of Representatives which has its Commitee on Education and Commitee on Higher Education.

Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked the Senate to review the number of standing committees.

“There are 40 standing committees. There are just 24 of us and the Senate President and Minority Leader cannot have committees. So 22 senators to handle 40 committees,” Drilon said.

“We are not supermen here. There are maybe too many committees so better to carefully review the  number of committees so as not to create a burden on members and put pressure on our administrative staff,” he added.

Drilon said the chamber should rationalize the committees and make adjustments. —NB, GMA News