SOME education groups urged candidates to have a strong agenda on education to address poverty and unemployment.

The Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities and Unified TVET of the Philippines said that education will help resolve problems including unemployment and poverty.

“To truly address our country’s urgent problems, particularly the economy, poverty, health, unemployment, and peace, we firmly believe that a strong education agenda would be vital in resolving them,” the groups said in a statement.

They called on the candidates to provide a new educational delivery system that will allow schools to reopen gradually and safely.

“As everyone recognizes the safety of our learners, it is also essential to adapt teaching-learning modalities to the new normal to ensure the future-proofing of our students in terms of values formation, civic consciousness, and productivity,” the groups said.

PACU, CEAP, Papscu, and UniTVET believe that the next president should have a solid educational plan that consolidates and unifies education stakeholders’ endeavors.

“We look forward to engaging presidentiables and other national and local candidates in meaningful dialogue on their views on Philippine education, particularly on access, quality, relevance, developmental outcomes, and strengthening the complementary role of the private education sector,” they said.