SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano stressed the importance of addressing the country’s education problems one step at a time, emphasizing the need to focus on priorities.

Cayetano made the statement during the 3rd Quarter Commission Meeting of the Second Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM II.

The meeting, part of quarterly discussions, tackled administrative and technical matters for Year 2.

“As we find out the problems and try to solve them, alamin natin kung ano talaga y’ung priority of all our priorities because kung maraming priorities, walang priority,” Cayetano, who co-chairs EDCOM II, said.

Also the chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, Cayetano highlighted that one of the country’s major educational challenges is stunting in children.

According to the World Health Organization, child stunting refers to a child who is too short for his or her age and is the result of chronic or recurrent malnutrition.

Stunting, the WHO added, is a contributing risk factor to child mortality and is also a marker of inequalities in human development.

“Stunted children fail to reach their physical and cognitive potential,” the WHO said on its website.

Cayetano recalled that Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, in a recent visit to the City of Taguig, emphasized the importance of early childhood development.

“Ang sinabi niya, the highest return on investment is from prenatal to five years old. You can have free and quality education, scholarships, and the best computers, pero ‘pag stunted ang bata, mahirap nang mai-correct iyon,” he said.

Cayetano said restoring and improving education in the country is God’s “assignment” to the members of EDCOM 2, emphasizing that it is their collective obligation not to deprive this generation.

“It’s such an honor to be a part of this. I will try to do my best and serve well so that we don’t steal from this generation,” he said.

Cayetano added that with the support of his committee, as well as Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, EDCOM II is well-positioned to achieve its goals.

The senator expressed his optimism for the future of education in the country and reaffirmed his commitment to EDCOM II’s ongoing efforts.

“It will be a pleasure and honor to work with all of you,” he said.