nextbet DepEd budget cut screams admin’s anti-education policy — Castro

LESSON FOR THE DAY A teacher at General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City prepares her students for the day’s lessons in this photo taken in February 2024. INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The P12 billion cut in the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposed budget for 2025 proves that the current administration has an anti-education policy, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said on Friday.

Castro in a statement said that the proposed 2025 budget shows the priorities of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, as the United Nations (UN) recommendation of allocating 6 percent of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to education was supposedly not followed.

Article continues after this advertisement

“This budget cut is completely unacceptable and shows where this administration’s priorities truly lie. Instead of working towards the UN-recommended education budget of 6% of GDP, the Marcos Jr. administration is doing the opposite by slashing vital education funds,” Castro claimed.

FEATURED STORIES NEWSINFO Bar exam result 2024: 3,962 passed – Supreme Court NEWSINFO Scores of bar topnotchers to be displayed, SC clarifies NEWSINFO PhilHealth’s zero subsidy for 2025 an insult to members – group

“Paano nga ba maiibsan ang learning crisis kung binabawasan pa ang pondo ng edukasyon? Ang P10 billion na kinat sa computerization program ay malaking dagok sa ating mga mag-aaral na desperadong makahabol sa digital age,” she added.

(How can we address the learning crisis if we reduce funds for education?  The P10 billion cut from the computerization program will be a huge blow to our students, who are desperate to catch up with the digital age.)

Article continues after this advertisement

According to Castro, even if transactions made by DepEd’s past administration—under Vice President Sara Duterte — were clouded with controversy, teachers and students should not suffer from this.

Article continues after this advertisement

Duterte and her former officials at the DepEd have been subjects of a congressional probe regarding allegedly irregular confidential fund (CF) expenditures. Previously, the Vice President was also criticized for low utilization rates for key DepEd projects, like the computerization program.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Solons blast low budget use, non-delivery of laptops of DepEd under Sara 

“Hindi dapat magdusa ang mga estudyante, guro, at education support personnel dahil sa mga anomalyang ginawa ng dating secretary. The answer to corruption is not to decrease funding but to strengthen accountability measures and increase support for our learners,” she said.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Students, teachers, and the education support personnel should not suffer because of the anomalies involving the former secretary.)

Castro’s statements came after the bicameral conference committee tackling differences in the Senate and the House of Representatives’ versions of the 2025 budget came out with a report showing that the education sector suffered budget cuts.

READ: Defense, MMDA, DICT budgets hiked; UP, SUCs, DepEd see cuts 

No less than former senator and now Education Secretary Sonny Angara lamented the budget cut suffered by DepEd, noting that this could have been a huge help for the agency’s computerization bid.

“P10 billion was cut from the proposed 2025 computerization program of the DepEd. That could have funded thousands of computers/gadgets for our public school children. Infrastructure is important but so is investing in our people and human capital. The digital divide will widen,” Angara said in a tweet.

“Sad to learn that both Houses of Congress have decided to decrease by P12 billion the budget the President proposed for DepEd for 2025. This reverses a trend in recent years where Congress adds even more to the education budget (save for one year during the pandemic),” he added.

https://x.com/sonnyangara/status/1867188114554589333

Former ACT Teachers party-list representative Antonio Tinio aired the same sentiments.

“The P10 billion cut from the computerization program would have provided thousands of students access to digital learning tools. This administration talks about economic recovery, but how can we achieve that when we’re compromising our children’s future?” Tinio asked.

“We demand the immediate restoration of the P12 billion budget cut and call for a significant increase in education funding. Education is a right, not a privilege. Kung may pondo para sa confidential funds at infrastructure projects, dapat may pondo rin para sa edukasyon ng ating kabataan,” he added.

fortune88

(If there are funds for confidential funds and infrastructure projects, we should have funds for the education of our people.)

This is not the first time that Castro called out the government for a supposedly inadequate budget for the education sector.  In August 2023, the lawmaker said that while the proposed allocation for the education sector in 2024 is higher than the subsequent year, it is not enough to support several needs.

READ: Proposed education budget still insufficient despite increase — Rep. Castro 

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

After a keenly awaited meeting the US central bank decided to lower borrowing costs for the first time since the start of the pandemic by opting for a half-point reduction.

Rex Education chief external affairs officer Danda Crimelda Buhain-Garcia said the partnership with the IPOPHL is a crucial step in the company’s fight against piracy.

SIGN ME UP

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Castro said that as the country is projected to have a gross domestic product (GDP) of P25.40 trillion in 2024nextbet, the budget for education should at least be P1.525 trillion if the government would observe UN standards.

READ NEXT LIVESTREAM: 2024 Bar exam results announcement Rain in Luzon, Mindanao Dec 13 due to 3 weather systems EDITORS' PICK When a breadwinner’s burden becomes too heavy, it’s simply ‘abuse’ Is Rosé taking the Taylor Swift route? Chinese General Hospital extends discounts to media employees Marcos aims to make PH military a ‘world-class force’ Bar exams 2024: Top 10 performers LIVE UPDATES: Bar exam results 2024 MOST READ Bar exam result 2024: 3,962 passed – Supreme Court LIVE UPDATES: Bar exam results 2024 Bar exam 2024 results: Top 10 performers Scores of bar topnotchers to be displayed, SC clarifies Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments