The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday said it will sustain its momentum to further advance gains in basic education following the country’s strongest performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

The Philippines gained an additional 20 points in reading in the 2025 PISA, up to 367 from 347 in 2022, while mean scores in science and mathematics also showed gains compared to 2022 results, up by 17 points to 373 and 16 points to 371, respectively.

This is the highest performance since its participation in 2018, prompting the Philippines to outrank other countries.

“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,” DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement.

“This is a whole-of-nation effort, and we will continue working shoulder-to-shoulder with all sectors to make quality education a reality for every Filipino child.”

Angara earlier attributed the upward trend in all domains to the ongoing education reforms under the administration, which includes going back to the basics through focusing on foundational learning and remediation programs, in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Through the vision and support of President Bongbong Marcos, this milestone proves that when we execute focused reforms and rally the entire country behind our learners, progress is achievable,” Angara said.

Other initiatives also include eased teachers’ workload to increase teaching time, improved curriculum, and applying learning from PISA gaps in 2022 and 2018, such as proper preparation, more exposure to the PISA environment, familiarity with computer use, and higher cooperation with private partner, education stakeholders, even down to the barangay levels.

Stakeholders support

Education stakeholders, meanwhile, expressed their support for sustaining the gains in the Philippines’ PISA performance.

The Second Congressional Commission on Education vowed to continue its support and lauded the joint efforts of teachers, parents, civil society groups, legislators, local government units and communities for the past three years.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Jose Francisco Benitez said this win in basic education directly boosts technical-vocational, tertiary, and lifelong training under the administration’s “One Education.”

Moreover, the Teacher Education Council (TEC) said this milestone in PISA reflects the “collective achievement” of teachers, school heads, parents and learners.

TEC vowed to strengthen joint actions toward a “resilient, fair, and meaningful education system.”

The National Association of Public Secondary School Heads Inc. also lauded the reforms and “good governance” being advanced under Angara’s helm, as the group commits to driving these initiatives across all national and local assessment metrics.

The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines likewise congratulated DepEd and Filipino learners, saying “every gain provides reason for hope as the nation moves forward together.”

The Philippine Business for Education, meanwhile, recognized the agency’s efforts to advance reform for Filipino learners.

“The 2025 PISA results show reforms can work when learning is prioritized with urgency, calling for sustained efforts to reach learners who are furthest behind,” it said.

Other business and innovation industries that recognized the country’s milestone, made possible through the education reforms, are the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Khan Academy Philippines Inc.

They also vowed continuous support and assistance in providing policy reforms and innovation for tools needed to sustain such progress. (PNA)