Newly appointed Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) chief Naguib Sinarimbo has vowed to implement reforms to address longstanding education challenges and improve learning outcomes in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Citing a recent report by the Second Congressional Commission on Education, Sinarimbo noted that BARMM has the country’s highest proportion of struggling readers among Grades 1 to 3 learners at 25.5 percent, while its functional literacy rate stands at 64.7 percent.
He also highlighted the region’s low cohort survival rate and gaps in educational access, infrastructure, teacher development, and institutional capacity.
Sinarimbo said he would use the findings to guide evidence-based policies and reforms, including addressing the need for at least 5,000 additional teachers to reduce classroom overcrowding.
He stressed that improving education requires cooperation among government agencies, educators, local governments, parents, and communities to build an inclusive and learner-centered education system.
Source: PhilNews24 | November 8, 2026
