CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY— Children could soon have access to barangay reading centers, learners with disabilities may benefit from a dedicated intervention center, and students could gain better pathways to jobs after the City Education and Development Advisory Council (CEDAC) endorsed a series of education reforms on Tuesday, July 28.
Meeting at the City Council Session Hall, CEDAC approved and endorsed 17 resolutions aimed at improving basic education, technical and skills training, and higher education in Cagayan de Oro.
Among the key proposals was an ordinance establishing barangay reading centers, designed to strengthen literacy and provide learning spaces closer to communities.
The council also backed the creation of a Special Needs Intervention Center for Children, which seeks to expand support services for children with disabilities through a dedicated city facility.
For learners needing extra classroom assistance, CEDAC endorsed the development and pilot implementation of a certification and micro-credentialing programme for shadow teachers through the City College of Cagayan de Oro, in partnership with the Department of Education and other stakeholders.
To help students recover from learning losses, the council endorsed a citywide learning recovery programme focused on improving foundational education through community participation.
The council also supported a proposed study on the educational reintegration of adolescent mothers, which aims to develop policies that will help young mothers return to school.
For students preparing for employment, CEDAC endorsed priority technical and vocational skills that will guide scholarships, workforce training and employment programmes. It also expressed support for creating a TESDA district office in Cagayan de Oro to expand access to technical education and skills development.
At the higher education level, the council approved studies that will examine STEM transition gaps, assess language and communication skills needed by industries, and create a citywide database matching internship opportunities with students.
CEDAC likewise supported a baseline study on safe school zones to improve road safety around educational institutions and endorsed "Sayawit," a pop-rock musical promoting mental health awareness among young people.
The meeting also marked the assumption of , regional director of the Commission on Higher Education in Northern Mindanao, as the new CEDAC chairperson.
As the city's primary education advisory body, CEDAC brings together government agencies, schools and industry partners to craft evidence-based policies aimed at improving learning outcomes and ensuring that no Kagay-anon learner is left behind. (Ben Balce, Editorial Lead)
