SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday presided over the organizational meeting and public hearing of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, highlighting the need for stronger coordination and reforms across the education system.

The committee tackled the key programs and priority agenda of the Commission on Higher Education and agreed to form technical working groups to study major proposals. These include the proposed Scholarship and Financial Assistance Act, the creation of EDCOM III, amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, and a governance framework for Local Universities and Colleges.

Cayetano identified EDCOM III as one of the committee’s top priorities. To ensure stronger inter-agency coordination, he proposed that the CHED chairperson, the Secretary of Education, and the Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority be formally included as members of the commission.

“These agencies must work hand in hand to address the gaps in our education system and to prepare students and workers for the challenges of the future,” Cayetano said.

The committee vowed to continue consultations with stakeholders in crafting policies that will improve access, quality, and governance in Philippine higher, technical, and vocational education.