Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday announced its commitment to maintain momentum in advancing basic education improvements following the Philippines' strongest performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) to date.
According to Philippines News Agency, the country achieved an additional 20 points in reading in the 2025 PISA, increasing from 347 in 2022 to 367. Mean scores in science and mathematics also improved, with science scores up by 17 points to 373 and mathematics scores up by 16 points to 371 compared to the 2022 results. This marks the highest performance since the Philippines began participating in PISA in 2018, enabling the country to surpass other nations.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the importance of sustaining these educational achievements. 'These gains give us hope, but they are just the baseline. We cannot afford to slow down when so many learners still need our help,' Angara stated. He highlighted the collaborative effort required across sectors to ensure quality education for every Filipino child.
Angara attributed the positive trend in all areas to ongoing educational reforms under the current administration. These reforms include a focus on foundational learning and remediation programs, aligning with directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Angara noted that the progress highlights the impact of focused reforms and national support for learners.
Additional initiatives involve reducing teachers' workload to enhance teaching time, improving the curriculum, and addressing gaps identified in previous PISA assessments. These efforts include better preparation, increased familiarity with computer use, and higher cooperation with private partners and educational stakeholders, extending to the barangay level.
Education stakeholders have expressed support for sustaining the Philippines' progress in PISA performance. The Second Congressional Commission on Education praised the efforts of teachers, parents, civil society groups, legislators, local government units, and communities over the past three years.
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Jose Francisco Benitez emphasized that advancements in basic education positively impact technical-vocational, tertiary, and lifelong training under the 'One Education' initiative. The Teacher Education Council (TEC) recognized the PISA milestone as a 'collective achievement' and committed to fostering a resilient and meaningful education system.
Various organizations, including the National Association of Public Secondary School Heads Inc. and the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, lauded the reforms and governance under Angara's leadership. The Philippine Business for Education acknowledged the agency's reform efforts, highlighting the importance of prioritizing learning with urgency to reach learners lagging behind.
Business and innovation sectors, such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Khan Academy Philippines Inc., also recognized the country's milestone, promising ongoing support and assistance in providing policy reforms and innovative tools to sustain educational progress.
