Filipinos’ Weakest Skill? CHED Names English Communication as Key Challenge

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has identified English communication as the weakest skill among Filipinos, highlighting a growing concern about the country’s workforce readiness and global competitiveness.

In her address at the Converge to ACHIEVE: The Higher Education Summit held on September 15, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said many graduates leave universities with diplomas but struggle to find employment due to poor communication skills. She noted that this issue extends beyond students to include professionals and even public servants, emphasizing that English proficiency remains a key factor in employability and international mobility.

Agrupis attributed the problem to deep-seated challenges within the education system — such as limited funding, fragmented curriculum design, and unequal access to quality instruction. She also pointed out internal institutional barriers, including slow policy implementation and outdated systems that hinder CHED’s ability to address skill gaps effectively.

To help bridge this divide, CHED plans to roll out a micro-credential program in purposive communication, which aims to strengthen the English skills of students, professionals, and government communicators. The program will focus on ethical, effective, and audience-aware communication skills essential for success in both local and international contexts. Agrupis also called on higher education institutions to revisit their curricula and ensure they are aligned with the real demands of the modern workforce.

Recent data support CHED’s concerns. A 2023 Social Weather Stations survey found that only 47% of Filipino adults consider themselves competent in English, compared to 75% who say they are proficient in Filipino. Agrupis warned that this declining proficiency poses a risk to the country’s global competitiveness, saying, “We cannot build the Bagong Pilipinas on a weak foundation.”

She added that what students seek are opportunities, not handouts — and what teachers need is respect, not just comfort. Agrupis envisions a higher education system that goes beyond academic output and transforms universities into centers of innovation that strengthen not only education but also national development.

At Capacité Development Center Philippines, we share CHED’s concern about the declining level of English communication skills among Filipino learners. We have seen firsthand how this skill gap limits not just career opportunities, but also confidence, creativity, and global mobility.

English is more than just a subject — it’s a life skill that opens doors to education, work, and meaningful connections around the world. That is why our programs are built to strengthen not only grammar and vocabulary, but also practical communication, cultural fluency, and real-world confidence.

Through our English Proficiency and IELTS Preparation programs, we aim to support CHED’s call for reform by providing accessible, high-quality training that meets international standards while remaining grounded in the Filipino experience.

Our commitment is simple: to help every learner build the ability — the capacité — to express, connect, and succeed in any environment. By equipping Filipinos with stronger communication skills, we move closer to a future where every Filipino voice can be heard clearly, confidently, and globally.