FILE

Looks like COCOPEA is making a big move. The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) has decided to step away from its formal membership in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). In a letter to the President on January 30, 2025, the council made it official—opting to focus on its core advocacy: strengthening education without being directly tied to the task force.

So, what’s the big deal? COCOPEA is the collective voice of private education in the Philippines, representing a mix of faith-based schools, universities, colleges, and tech-voc institutions. By stepping back from NTF-ELCAC, the council is emphasizing the importance of academic freedom and its commitment to staying independent in its mission to promote quality education.

But hold on—it’s not a total goodbye. COCOPEA made it clear that while it's withdrawing from formal membership, it still supports the task force’s broader goals of peace, security, and development. The council is open to discussions with NTF-ELCAC on issues that align with its mission, just without the official membership tag.

In short, COCOPEA is choosing to advocate for education in its own way—without the constraints of being part of a government-led task force. It’s a move that reinforces its role in championing private education while keeping the doors open for collaboration where it counts.