In the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) held on July 28, 2025, our President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. acknowledged the ongoing education crisis in the Philippines. He addressed the need to reform the curriculum, strengthen teacher training, and expand access to digital learning resources. These statements reflect a vision of improving the quality of education and making it more responsive to the needs of today’s learners. This rhetoric stood out to me because it recognizes the real struggles faced by both teachers and students. Many students continue to deal with overcrowded classrooms like 40-60 students with just 1 teacher, outdated learning materials, and difficulty in access to technology, and poor classroom facilities. Teachers, on the other hand, are expected to adapt to modern methods without receiving the necessary support. They are underpaid and undervalued yet bombarded with paper works and administrative task than actual teaching. By bringing these issues to the national stage, the President highlights education as a social responsibility, one that requires urgent attention if the Philippines is to compete globally.

Despite these positive intentions, I also see limitations in the speech. While it sets clear objectives about the introduction of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program it does not provide concrete strategies for how these reforms will be carried out,  it still lacks clear details on how these goals will be achieved. Without specific plans, timelines, and resources, the speech may remain as rhetoric rather than reality. To bring out real change, it must be backed by consistent action, proper investment, and accountability to ensure that the goals set for education truly benefit both learners and educators. As a teacher, I believe tha education should not just be a political promise, if the government and other stake holder's vision is carried out with sincerity and action, it can shape a brighter future for Filipino children and for the nation as a whole.

Reference: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/954032/sona-2025-marcos-admits-reality-ph-education-vows-reforms/story/