Reform must follow record educ budget

Prominent business and civil society groups welcomed the proposed record-high ₱1.

- By DEXTER BARRO II

38 trillion allocation to the education sector, while urging lawmakers to include long-term reforms to ensure its proper implementation.In a joint statement, Makati Business Club (MBC), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA), and Association of Foundations (AF) lauded Congress' efforts to ramp up the country's education spending.

The groups said the ₱1.38-trillion budget, which represents 4.5 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), moves the sector closer to global benchmarks.

"This level of investment demonstrates a clear recognition that sustained human capital development are central to the country's long-term competitiveness," the statement read.

"It is also an opportunity to address persistent learning gaps, strengthen teacher quality, and improve school facilities," it added.