THE KABATAAN Partylist has criticized the newly signed education equivalency law, calling it a “band-aid solution” that fails to address the root causes of education inaccessibility and youth unemployment.

While the law grants academic credentials to workers with skills and experience but no formal education, Kabataan Partylist argued that it does not tackle the systemic barriers preventing young Filipinos from pursuing higher education.

Atty. Renee Co, the group’s national spokesperson and first nominee, acknowledged the importance of helping skilled workers advance in their careers. However, she pointed out that high dropout rates and limited access to genuinely free education remain the bigger problems.

“The real issue is that many students don’t even reach college due to financial constraints, and those who do often struggle to stay enrolled,” Co said.

The group criticized continued budget cuts for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), saying these reductions force institutions to impose fees despite the government’s promise of free education.

Co also highlighted the lack of stable job opportunities for young Filipinos, stating that both graduates and non-graduates compete for mostly contractual or seasonal jobs with no long-term security.

“The fight shouldn’t just be about career promotion—it’s about ensuring that there are enough decent, stable jobs for our youth,” she added.