Manila: Despite shared frustrations over the K-12 program, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said his administration is focused on strengthening the current curriculum and addressing long-standing gaps in education infrastructure and teacher support, while Congress deliberates possible changes.

According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos, in his latest podcast, referred to Senator Jinggoy Estrada's call to abolish senior high school. He expressed similar frustrations about the program, particularly regarding its cost to parents and its perceived lack of advantage in securing jobs. Marcos indicated that the government is awaiting Congress's decision on any potential changes to the program.

While the K-12 program remains the law, Marcos has instructed Education Secretary Sonny Angara to enhance the system. He acknowledged a recurring issue of skills mismatch and emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in training programs that are directly linked to employment opportunities.

Addressing broader education reform, Marcos highlighted the urgent need for classroom repair and reconstruction, identifying a shortage of 160,000 classrooms. The government is leveraging Public-Private Partnerships to address this shortage, as relying solely on government resources would limit the extent of progress.

Marcos stressed the importance of supporting teachers in revitalizing the education sector. He mentioned programs aimed at retraining teachers, reducing their administrative load, and increasing hiring. He also recalled his legislative work in establishing savings cooperatives for teachers to protect them from loan sharks.

In a message to teachers, Marcos described them as heroes and acknowledged the heavy workload they bear. He assured them of the government's support, promising to assist them as much as possible.