Pushing for an accessible, quality, and democratic education, Dabawenyo youth gathered to examine institutional issues in the current educational system, condemning it as highly commercialized, colonial, and authoritarian form.
In this year’s State of the Youth Address (SOYA), students and youth advocates highlighted the country’s education budget, General Education (GE) reforms, and repression of academic freedom.
Record allocation, continuing education crisis
Standing as the highest allotment in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially signed the bill allocating ₱ 1.34 trillion for the education sector, yet despite the record allocation, 26 state universities and colleges (SUCs) all over the Philippines are still set to face a combined P6.88 billion cut in the draft budget.
Rise for Education (R4E) – Obrero member Mel Lance Baliguat stated that the annual budget increase could be offset immediately by underlying funding reductions in specific operations at state colleges.
“For example, we have Maintenance and Other Operational Expenses (MOOE). Diri involve niya ang mga operations like utilities, student services, naa pud tay academic supplies. Diri, naay 12% na pagbaba, so kung giingon nato nga naay increase, naa pud mas lalum na baba ani,” Baliguat shared.
Echoing similar concerns, Gabriela Youth – Jacinto Chairperson Fatimah Guiani shared that scholarships and financial aid grants are not enough to address the heavy economic burden of tuition fees.
“Ang karamihan sa mga estudyante ay napipilitang magtrabaho muna; ang mga magulang nila ay kailangang mag-acquire ng student loans, or in worst cases, kailangan nilang itigil ang pag-aaral nila altogether dahil nga sa heavy economic burden na ipinapataw ng pag-aaral,” Guiani said.
Guiani added that the commercialization of education has made access to learning increasingly dependent on a student’s financial capacity rather than their right to education.
“Education is a fundamental right, not a privilege reserved only for those who can afford it. And hindi siya dapat binibili,” she said.
Colonial education prioritizes foreign demands
Beyond concerns about affordability, youth leaders also questioned the direction of Philippine education policies.
They argued that the proposed Strengthened Senior High School (SSHS) Curriculum and the General Education (GE) Reform in tertiary education prioritize an industry-ready workforce aligned with foreign labor demands instead of addressing the country’s educational needs.
National Union of Students of the Philippines – Davao Regional Coordinator John Allen Bucol asserted that the SSHS Curriculum is not consultative, being solely anchored on producing students’ industry readiness.
“Yun ang pinaka-esensya bakit nila pinush forward ‘yung Strengthened Senior High curriculum…which is highly not scientific. Bilang unyon ng mga estudyante, siyempre against tayo sa pag-strengthen ng hindi naman talaga genuine and scientifically aligned sa interests ng mga students.”
Bucol also criticized the proposed GE reforms in higher education, particularly plans to reduce GE units to shorten students’ time in college.
“Saan nanggagaling ang reasoning bakit kailangan ng reform? Sumagot si CHED, that the reframed GE curriculum was pushed forward because we wanted all of the college students to become industry-ready. So ang orientation ng policy-making natin is anchored sa needs—hindi natin, ng big companies; hindi local big companies—mga foreign big companies.”
Following concerns raised by various education stakeholders, CHED announced that the implementation of the GE curriculum would be pushed back to 2028.
Campus press, academic freedom under threat
Campus journalists and student representatives highlighted threats to academic and press freedom, citing the University of Mindanao’s recent intervention in its student publication, PRIMUM.
Former PRIMUM Associate Editor-in-Chief Cyrus Decolas emphasized that the administrative repression of their publication stripped the student press of its independence and its role in developing students’ critical thinking.
“Instead of being the beacon of hope of the student body, the student press became the puppet of the school administration,” Decolas said.
Alongside that, University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) Student Council President Kai Mañacap raised concerns about the heightening militarization, as the Philippine Army’s 11th Regional Community Defense Group (11RCDG) continues to operate within campus halls.
Mañacap argued that the continued militarization of campuses undermines academic freedom, insisting that fascist practices have no place within educational institutions.
“The school is a zone of peace, and under International Humanitarian Law, it maintains that schools should be sustained as zones of peace. Kinahanglan walay military presence,” she said.
The Eduk Natin ‘To: State of the Youth Address 2026, organized by Rise for Education (R4E) Davao in partnership with SAMAHAN-Department of Academic Affairs (SAMAHAN-DAA), was held on July 18 at Finster Auditorium, Ateneo de Davao University.