A MEMBER of the Congressional Commission on Education 2 stressed the need to build public and stakeholder support for the reform initiatives for the education sector.

Joseph Noel Estrada, the commission’s chief legal officer, said that its success hinges on the implementation of legislation beyond EDCOM 2’s three-year lifespan.

“We have to oversee that these solutions are implemented. I think we can build on that – kahit tapos na ang EDCOM 2, dapat mayroon pa ring opisina that is constantly looking at education reforms,” he said.

Estrada also emphasized the need to establish public support for education.

“If you get the numbers, if you get the supporters of education, then that’s good politics,” he said.

“Our reforms should survive several administrations in the long-term,” Estrada added.

Meanwhile, EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee underlined the critical role of education stakeholders in building a strong constituency for reform.

“We need a strong constituency for reform to make sure that there is a check and balance in government after EDCOM 2 to ensure continuity in efforts to improve quality of education,” Yee said.

He said that parents, industries, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders can organize themselves to make sure that government does not stray from its path to reform.