SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — EduAksyon Party-list, advocating for realistic and practical educational reforms, received on Friday encouraging response from students and parents during the recently held Students’ Forum 2025.

In a forum held at The Manila Times College of Subic, parents and students-participants expressed support to EduAksyon Party-list’s advocacy they considered as realistic and practical but which they never heard from other parties.

EduAksyon first nominee Michael Alexander Ang, and second nominee Atty. Kristjan Vincent Gargantiel explained that among their programs in Congress is to file a bill that will shorten college years to only two, instead of regular for years.

According to Ang, aside from having the lowest budget in the whole of Asia, there is also something wrong in the implementation of the K-12 program, as first year and second year college students have to take subjects that have already been taken in Grade 11 and 12.

“This mistake contributes to the reason why the Philippine education system is lagging behind. We are in the second to last position in terms of quality education,” Ang said.

He added that minor subjects should be removed from the college curriculum making college years only two years. But students should undergo mandatory one-year on-the-job training (OJT) as employees of companies as a requirement for graduation.

 “What the EduAksyon will do is to file a bill that will reduce the academic years of college to only two years, but require them to undergo one year extensive training in a company, with allowance equivalent to 75% of the salary of newly hired employees,” said Ang.

This concept is already being implemented in the United States, Europe and progressive countries in Asia, like Singapore and Japan. “CHED’s four-year system was outdated long ago and no longer reflects today’s rapidly changing job market, he said.

EduAksyon enumerated some of the advantages of the Bill, if passed, including first, cost efficiency as parents could save more money equivalent to four semesters of tuition fees, transportation fares, allowances, and possibly board and lodging; and the students will be receiving allowances equivalent to 75% of the minimum wage during their OJT.

Secondly, the educational system will become more efficient since redundant curriculum subjects will be removed; Thirdly, students will enter into the workforce earlier because of the intensive training he received during OJT.

Fourthly, Academic curriculum will be aligned with the needs of the industry in the locality, and Fifthly, because of the system, there will be flexibility, specialization and competition.

Aside from reducing college years, EduAksyon will also push for the provision of breakfast to all public elementary schools; distribution of free tablets, E-books, school supplies to all public school students; Free internet to all students; and distribution of educational financial assistance for all deserving students.