Our Message for EdCom 2: Rebuild Education in the Philippines

The Role of the Family in Philippine Education

On October 28, 2025, I had the opportunity to attend the public hearing of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EdCom 2) in Makati. During this event, I delivered a brief position statement on behalf of our National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution (NCFC). NCFC is a broad alliance consisting of parents, churches, and civic organizations that advocate for family-centered and constitutionally grounded policymaking.

The hearing, chaired by Senator Loren Legarda and Representative Roman Romulo, included the presence of Education Secretary Sonny Angara and the Department of Education (DepEd) leadership. The main focus of the gathering was to revisit the DepEd charter in light of the country’s worsening learning crisis. The event brought together legislators, educators, and civic leaders to address a fundamental question: How can we rebuild the moral and intellectual foundations of Philippine education?

The Purpose of EdCom 2

EdCom 2 was established by Congress to conduct a comprehensive national review of the entire education system and propose reforms to address the chronic decline in learning outcomes, teacher support, and system governance. The commission's findings have been sobering: Filipino students are more than five years behind global benchmarks, with proficiency levels in basic subjects at barely half of what is expected internationally.

Beyond these statistics lies a deeper issue — the fading moral and formative foundation of education. Schools may teach skills, but when the values that guide those skills are neglected, learning loses its soul. Rebuilding Philippine education must begin not only with bureaucracy but with the restoration of the family as the first school of the nation.

During my short message, I outlined four fundamental points before presenting our five simple recommendations to further strengthen the role of the family and help address the crisis in our education system.

Key Points from the Position Statement

Point No. 1: The constitutional design is parents as the first teachers

The 1987 Constitution clearly states the family’s primacy in education. Article II, Section 12 emphasizes that “the natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth... shall receive the support of the government.” The State’s role is to assist, not to assume, the duty of parents.

Similarly, Article XV calls the family “the foundation of the nation” and ensures its right “to participate in the planning and implementation of programs that affect it.” This principle means families should not merely be beneficiaries of education policy but co-architects in its design. When parents are sidelined, education loses its moral compass and cultural continuity.

Point No. 2: The true goal of education is forming the whole person

Education is not simply about academic achievement; it is about forming the whole person. The Constitution, in Article XIV, Section 3(2), directs that teaching must “foster love of humanity, respect for human rights, and the development of moral character and personal discipline,” and must “strengthen ethical and spiritual values.”

This vision is echoed in Republic Act 9155, which defines the purpose of education as the development of “caring, self-reliant, productive and patriotic citizens.” In other words, education must shape not only the intellect but also the conscience.

Unfortunately, decades of reforms have tilted heavily toward technical efficiency and global competitiveness while neglecting character formation. The result is an education system that may produce workers, but not necessarily citizens — knowledgeable but not wise, competent but not compassionate.

Point No. 3: Build partnership between home and school

True reform begins when families and schools work together. The home is the first classroom, and parents are the first teachers. A strong education system honors this truth by ensuring that what is taught in schools reinforces what is valued at home.

This partnership must be embedded in law and practice. Policies should institutionalize parental participation through consultative councils at national and local levels, particularly in the development of curricula and values-based programs. Such participation is not ceremonial; it is a constitutional safeguard ensuring that education remains anchored in the moral and cultural identity of the Filipino people.

Point No. 4: Guard our cultural and moral sovereignty

In an era of globalization, education reform must also guard against the erosion of moral and cultural sovereignty. Article II, Section 7 of the Constitution states that “in our dealings with other nations, the paramount consideration shall be national sovereignty and national interest.”

Foreign-assisted programs and international educational models can bring valuable insights — but not all imported frameworks fit the Filipino conscience. For example, some externally developed sexuality or values modules may conflict with long-held cultural and spiritual principles. Every proposed reform must therefore undergo a moral and cultural review, ensuring that cooperation does not become capitulation.

Global partnerships should strengthen, not dilute, our distinct Filipino worldview — one that honors God, family, and community responsibility.

Five Policy Imperatives and Recommendations for Renewal

Drawing from constitutional principles and the findings of EdCom 2, several imperatives can guide education reform moving forward:

• Affirm the family as the foundation of education. Recognize explicitly in the DepEd charter that the family is the child’s first school and that government programs must reinforce — not replace — parental authority.
• Institutionalize parental and community participation. Create permanent consultative mechanisms that allow parents and community leaders to review curricula and values instruction.
• Prioritize moral and spiritual formation. Embed ethical reasoning, patriotism, and character formation as measurable outcomes in basic and alternative learning systems.
• Vetting of foreign-funded programs. Require moral-cultural evaluation of donor-sponsored educational materials before adoption to ensure they align with national laws and traditions.
• Empower teachers as partners of parents. Provide teachers with professional support and reduce administrative burdens so they can focus on mentoring and moral guidance.

When parents, teachers, and the State work in harmony, education becomes not only a system of instruction but a community of formation.

From Reform to Renewal

The Philippine learning crisis is not only institutional — it is spiritual. Rebuilding schools without rebuilding homes will never solve it. The State may construct classrooms, but only parents can construct character.

This is the essence of national renewal: a balanced partnership where the State ensures access and quality, educators nurture knowledge, and families instill virtue. When these three forces align, education becomes not just preparation for work, but preparation for life.

As the ancient wisdom of Proverbs 22:6 reminds us: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” It is both a command and a promise — one that still holds the key to our nation’s moral and intellectual restoration.

The path forward begins where all learning begins — in the home.