CHED Chair Shirley Agrupis said that the weakest skill of Filipinos is English communication. She mentioned this in a meeting with Presidential Communications Usec. Claire Castro and called for a purposive communication program for students, professionals, and government employees.
According to Agrupis, graduates should not only receive a diploma, but also be prepared to compete in jobs. Many young people are having difficulty finding jobs while some industries are still short of people. Another problem is the curriculum that often lags behind the needs of the economy.
He also emphasized that education should be a guarantee and not just a dream. He added that youth demand opportunities, teachers need respect and support, and universities should be recognized as advocates of innovation and democracy.
Agrupis also admitted that CHED has its own problems such as slow policy implementation, old system, and inconsistent data. That is why his first 100 days as chair focused on reform and innovation to make CHED a more active partner in educational transformation.
