Sen Angara assures DepEd: Basic ed stays off-limits to foreign own.

Senator Sonny Angara assured DepEd on Tuesday that proposed constitutional amendments do not aim to allow full foreign ownership of basic educational institutions.

Angara, who heads the Senate subcommittee on constitutional amendments, clarified during a hearing that the intention is to liberalize higher and vocational technical education only, while maintaining restrictions for basic education.

DepEd expressed strong objections earlier over concerns about opening up basic education to foreign control, but Angara reiterated his stance that the upper chamber will keep basic education closed to foreign investment.

At the outset of the educational institutions session, Angara said the intention was not to open up basic education due to its importance for values formation and nationalism.

During the hearing, DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Cesar Bringas cautioned against amending Section 4, Article 14 of the Constitution, warning that it could serve as a gateway to expand control over educational institutions beyond Filipino citizens.

Education officials reiterated their stance during the hearing, emphasizing the importance of Filipino citizens implementing the Philippine curriculum to align with national needs and context.