Diokno, Bam Aquino call for increased education budget, expanded Free College law

The government should increase its education budget to at least 6% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to address the education crisis, human rights lawyer and Akbayan Party-list first nominee Chel Diokno said Tuesday.

Diokno said that as it is, the national government’s budget for education only stands at near 4% of the GDP, way short of the 6% of the GDP as recommended by the United Nations. Likewise, Diokno cited the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) report findings which revealed the underinvestment in education for decades, resulting in the decline of its quality.

"If we want to address this education crisis and improve the learning outcomes of our students,  we must aim for the recommendation of the United Nations and make it at least six percent of our gross domestic product, and ensure that our money goes where it is supposed to go," Diokno said in a statement.

In addition, he said that the salary grade levels of public school teachers should be upgraded, on top of providing overtime pay and ample instructional supplies and equipment for teachers as well as well-reviewed textbooks per child in all subjects.

As for the students, Diokno said that there is a need to build their basic numeracy and literacy skills, as well as expand the school-based and community-based feeding programs for zero- to five-year-old children and for all levels of basic education, especially in low-income municipalities where nutrition is a grave concern.

"We need to provide all the necessary support to our teachers—from adequate salary and other benefits—to sufficient supplies and materials for teaching, so they can effectively fulfill their duties to our students. As for the students, the government should ensure that the students are getting proper nutrition. Otherwise, the students will be at risk their whole lives,” Diokno said.

College education

Also on Tuesday, former Senator Bam Aquino pitched for expansion of the Free College Education Law to cover more students, ensure that subsidies for other school expenses under the law are properly funded, and there is guaranteed employment for Filipinos.

“In other countries, the Department of Education at saka Department of Employment is under the same department, because the [education] process should lead you towards the right employment," Aquino, who is seeking a Senate comeback in the 2025 polls, said during his visit to student leaders of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) in Cagayan de Oro.

"Ang gusto natin, bago pa maka-graduate, may job offer na. At hindi ‘yan mangyayari kung hindi integrated iyong ating market, iyong ating commerce, at 'yung ating schools. Kailangan ng espasyo ng mga schools to be able to tweak within the framework of CHED ano iyong pwedeng gawin para mas responsive tayo sa merkado," Aquino added, referring to the Commission on Higher Education.

(What we want is that even before the student graduates, there is already a feasible job offer. And that won’t happen if the market, commerce and schools are not integrated. The schools need elbow room to tweak certain policies within CHED’s framework so we can be more responsive to the job market.)

Aquino is one of the authors of the Free College Education Law or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act enacted into law in 2017. —KG, GMA Integrated News

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