BBM forms education, workforce body

Citing concerns over the "fragmented" implementation of education programs and "incoherent" policies, President Marcos has formed a central coordinating body on education and workforce development.

- By ALEXIS ROMERO

The Education and Workforce Development Group would craft a 10-year plan to guide agencies in aligning Philippine education and workforce with the global economy's evolving demands.

Challenges facing the education sector are expected to be addressed by the plan, such as identifying priority programs and providing mechanisms to boost the country's labor market information system.

Tasks of the group include evaluating inter-agency bodies with education-related duties and proposing mechanisms to streamline them, overseeing program implementation and studying legal and policy frameworks related to education and workforce development.

Created through Administrative Order 36 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Aug. 13, the group will be chaired by Marcos, with the education secretary as co-chair and labor secretary as vice chair.

Members include the chair of the Commission on Higher Education, secretaries of the migrant workers and economy, planning and development departments and director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.