SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian said the National Education and Workforce Development Plans launched by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) will serve as the government’s strategic guide in addressing the persistent jobs-skills mismatch in the country.

Gatchalian explained that the National Education Plan is a 10-year roadmap designed to ensure synergy and coordination among the government, educational institutions, local leaders, and communities in advancing education and workforce development reforms.

Among the key priority areas of the National Education Plan are support for early childhood development, the development of functional literacy, and the strengthening of critical thinking and digital skills.

The plan also aims to enhance graduate readiness for employment, higher education, and technical-vocational education and training, promote inclusive learning, improve access to quality tertiary education, and strengthen governance and resource allocation in the education sector.

Complementing the National Education Plan is the Workforce Development Plan, which identifies five priority industry clusters: advanced manufacturing, digital technology, healthcare, financial services, and tourism.

According to Gatchalian, these sectors were selected based on the quality of jobs they generate, their potential to expand employment opportunities across regions, their growth prospects, and their projected contribution to economic value-added growth.

Gatchalian underscored the need for a long-term and coordinated approach to education reform, stressing that incremental and fragmented efforts will no longer suffice.

“We need a long-term direction to resolve the education crisis. Business-as-usual is no longer an option. What we need is stronger collaboration to stabilize and strengthen our education system,” he said.

The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, said implementing the two plans is crucial to ensuring that the country’s education system produces graduates equipped with the skills demanded by a rapidly evolving labor market.