Senator Advocates Education Budget Four Percent GDP
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian emphasized the urgent need for the education budget to reach four percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) next year. The four percent GDP allocation aligns with the international standards that education advocates have long demanded from the government. This keyphrase, education budget four percent GDP, is central to his proposal and vision.
As the chair of the Senate finance committee, Gatchalian promised to exhaust all efforts to achieve or even surpass this four percent target. He believes that increasing the budget significantly will help resolve the ongoing education crisis in the Philippines. “This doesn’t mean that we are disregarding the other sectors. We will just give priority to education,” he said in Filipino.
Focus on Foundational Learning and Program Support
The proposed P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026 will prioritize “going back to the basics,” which includes improving literacy and numeracy skills among students from kindergarten to Grade 3. Strengthening these foundational skills is crucial to boosting overall educational outcomes across the country.
Moreover, the budget aims to support the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program. Gatchalian also pushed for reviving a complementary initiative where national and local governments jointly fund classroom construction. This collaboration aims to expand classroom infrastructure to meet demand.
Teacher Support and Administrative Relief
In addition to infrastructure and programs, the senator wants the 2026 budget to hire more teacher aides. These aides would help reduce teachers’ administrative and non-teaching responsibilities, allowing educators to focus more on teaching and student engagement.
Teacher groups have consistently called for the education budget to reach at least four percent of GDP. This demand has persisted for years as a response to chronic underfunding and resource shortages in schools nationwide.
Controversy Over Previous Allocations
Last year, the Marcos administration claimed that education received the largest share of the 2025 budget. However, critics pointed out that the calculation included funding for military and police academies, which some groups and lawmakers questioned. This controversy highlighted the need for clear and transparent budget allocation for education.
Senator Gatchalian’s ambitious push for an education budget four percent GDP clearly signals a commitment to prioritize education funding and improve the sector’s quality and accessibility.
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