President Marcos said there is still more work to be done to improve education quality in the country.
Speaking at the National Higher Education Day Summit (NHEDS) at the Philippine International Convention Center on Wednesday, President Marcos emphasized the critical importance of elevating the quality of higher education in the Philippines.
President Marcos noted the absence of Philippine universities in the Top 100 of the Times Higher Education’s 2024 Asia University Rankings.
“We must acknowledge that in the recent Times Higher Education’s 2024 Asia University Rankings, unfortunately, no Philippine university has reached Top 100, with the country’s top schools either dropping or maintaining their rankings,” President Marcos said.
“This just goes to show that much work is still to be done. We must pursue a comprehensive and all-encompassing strategy that will turn this trend around. The state of our education today shapes the future of the nation,” he added.
He emphasized that the quality of the present higher education system significantly influences the future success of today’s youth, highlighting the need to excel in a swiftly changing world.
“Giving the youth the right competencies and skills and training is the only way for them to prevail, and to prosper, in this highly competitive world. Our greatest obligation to them is to mold them into critical thinkers, into problem solvers, into visionaries, wielding the skills that will allow them to succeed in the future,” Mr. Marcos said.
President Marcos, on the other hand, welcomed the significant increase in the number of higher educational institutions (HEIs) featured in global rankings, with 81 institutions recognized, up from 52 in July 2023.
As of January 2024, the Philippines boasts 1,977 HEIs, including 113 state universities and colleges (SUCs), 137 local universities and colleges (LUCs), 1,714 private HEIs, and 13 other government and special schools.
