AROUND 300 student councils and organizations across the country will lobby for a holistic agenda to help address the national education crisis.

The Student Council Alliance of the Philippines launched the campaign to call for a declaration of an education crisis, similar to the move made in September 2021 when more than 100 students and youth organizations also did the same across the country.

The group is rolling out an education emergency plan for a four-point education agenda: aggressive Covid19 response for the safe reopening of schools, accessible mental health services, pandemic-responsive budget and monitoring, and the passage of the Students’ Rights and Welfare Bill.

Following the call, Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution No. 901 to declare an education crisis and implement an emergency plan for the education sector.

“With the recent changes in the state of Philippine education, there is a need to update the education agenda to ensure that the organic and timely concerns of the Filipino students are heard by the authorities,” SCAP national chairperson Ken Paolo Gilo said during the National Students’ Caucus.

Gilo further explained the alliance seeks to submit the finalized agenda to the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and the newly established Second Congressional Commission on Education, among other concerned agencies, with the goal to be considered in the policy-making for education.

“Beyond consideration of our agenda, the best way to craft efficient and effective policies towards accessible and quality education is to provide spaces of participation for students and other education stakeholders in the policy-making process,” Gilo said.

Also joining the National Student Caucus is Atty. Chel Diokno who gave a talk on the education crisis and the role of students in advancing reforms in education.

Senator Hontiveros also gave a pre-recorded inspirational message for the Filipino students, highlighting important reforms in education and the importance of the youth in the campaign for quality education.