Education in the country is in crisis: Filipino students have been scoring lower than their overseas peers in standardized tests on math, reading, and comprehension.

The Constitution explicitly states that education must be given the highest allocation. This year, budgets for military and police academies and nontraditional schools were counted in the overall education budget, making it appear that the bare minimum requirement has been met.

A closer look reveals that the Basic Education Inputs Program budget was reduced to P86.03 billion from 2024’s P92.18 billion. When government economic managers expect another million babies this year, in addition to the one million projected for 2024, the budget cut is puzzling. More babies mean more children who will eventually go to school. The steady increase in electricity costs and this year’s water rates hike should result in higher maintenance and operating costs. Yet, the BEIP budget for maintenance and other operating expenses has slipped to P21.41 billion from 2024’s P21.44 billion.

Per the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, government spending per student has decreased to P19,943 in 2021 from P22,979 in 2017, making ours one of the lowest spending rates per student globally.

The crisis is multifaceted and far-reaching. Funding is key.

In public schools, classrooms are overcrowded, books and other learning materials lacking. The shortage of classrooms, estimated at 160,000, is forcing classes in multiple shifts. There is also a teacher shortage and, in many public schools, little confidence in the quality of instruction. Lack of subject mastery, ineffective teaching practices, and teacher absenteeism contribute to poor learning outcomes. With a growing population and a shrinking budget, the problem only worsens.

In a corporate setting, companies often tap third-party service providers to cut costs. In theory, outsourcing allows a company to eliminate maintenance and operating expenditure, and shield itself from rising expenses. Outsourcing also enables savings on personnel expenses such as training and upskilling.

The Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) is an attempt to increase access to quality education while easing the burden on public schools. Currently, the Department of Education’s voucher program applies only to students completing Grade 10.

Last month, the House of Representatives passed on second reading House Bill No. 11214. The bill proposes to assist vulnerable and underprivileged students by enrolling them in private schools. It includes funding for in-service teacher training, advanced studies scholarships, and financial support for institutional enhancements in accredited private basic education schools.

In the Senate, Sen. Win Gatchalian introduced Senate Bill No. 2911 to amend the GASTPE Act. His proposal seeks to extend assistance to learners from kindergarten to Grade 6, implementing a uniform tuition subsidy through a voucher system. The Senate bill prioritizes learners from low-income households and Alternative Learning System completers.

Calls for expanding the GASTPE are growing. The Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities urges for the program to cover more underprivileged students. Meanwhile, the Private Education Assistance Committee is pushing for GASTPE’s expansion to kindergarten through Grade 6, aligning with Gatchalian’s proposal. Advocates argue that expanding GASTPE would increase access to education, improve quality standards, and make use of private schools’ spare capacity, reducing pressure to quickly build new public schools.

However, such expansion should also mean increasing the budget per student. Tuition in private schools is often higher than the government subsidy, forcing students and their families to shoulder the difference. 

The International Monetary Fund has been emphasizing the importance of investing in people and improving educational outcomes.

“The Philippines has … about 20 years to take advantage of its young population, requiring strategic investments in nutrition, health and education,” the 2024 IMF staff report said. Given standardized exams showing low educational outcomes and the learning poverty rate at 90 percent among primary school-age children, the situation is urgent. The transition to digital will put them at a bigger disadvantage.

There is wisdom in prioritizing education. The youth is the future of any nation, and scrimping on education means shortchanging the country.

If systemic issues remain unresolved, the education crisis will persist, leaving millions of Filipino students ill-prepared for tomorrow.

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Dr. Zosimo M. Battad is the president of the University of the East, a private academic institution founded in 1946 that, for a time, had the highest enrollment in Asia.