Marcos Jr. appoints Angara as Education Sec.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Senator Sonny Angara as the new Secretary of Education, effective July 19.

Colleagues in the Senate, including Senators Grace Poe and Lito Lapid, along with House Speaker Martin Romualdez, expressed support for Angara's appointment, recognizing his qualifications and experience in education reform.

During a Cabinet Meeting on Tuesday, President Marcos instructed Angara to focus on improving the country's poor educational performance, particularly addressing issues highlighted by PISA 2022 results.

The University of the East (UE) welcomed Angara's appointment, expressing optimism that he will effectively address challenges in education due to his extensive knowledge and background.

Critics and stakeholders urged Angara to tackle key issues such as improving teachers' salaries and benefits, resolving the classroom shortage, and ensuring a comprehensive review of the K-12 program.

Rappler community members are discussing their expectations for Angara's leadership, highlighting challenges like reducing the 159,000 classroom deficit and integrating topics such as the West Philippine Sea into the curriculum.