SENATOR Bam Aquino is pushing for a measure aimed at enhancing decentralized governance and improving service delivery in basic education.

Under Senate Bill No. 2089, Aquino proposed the creation and rationalization of Schools Division Offices while seeking amendments to the Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001.

Aquino said that more than two decades since the law’s passage, the realities faced by the Department of Education have significantly changed.

He noted that learner populations have increased, the number of schools has expanded, and the challenge of delivering quality education across different geographic areas has become more complex.

One of the major issues, Aquino said, is the uneven workload among Schools Division Offices.

The proposed measure seeks to address these gaps by authorizing the rationalization and creation of Schools Division Offices to ensure that the delivery of basic education services remains responsive and equitable.

The bill would also empower the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management, to establish additional school divisions and reorganize, merge, realign, or subdivide existing divisions and districts when necessary.

According to the measure, such changes may be based on learner population, number of schools served, geographic conditions, workload demands, and other service delivery considerations.