Filipino Students Face Surging Bullying, Cyberbullying Rates: PISA

Nearly half of Filipino 15-year-olds experienced bullying at least several times a month in 2025, more than twice the average across OECD countries, the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) showed. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said 47% of students in the Philippines reported being victims of at least one form of bullying a few times per month or more in 2025, more than double the OECD average of 20%. The prevalence of bullying in the Philippines increased from 2022, reversing a decline recorded between 2018 and 2022. The OECD said the earlier decline was likely linked to the lingering effects of disruptions caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Cyberbullying was less common than other forms of bullying, but students who experienced it showed significant learning gaps. About 14% of Filipino students said upsetting information about them had been published online without their consent at least a few times a month in the 12 months before the PISA assessment. This was substantially higher than the OECD average of 3%. These students scored an average of 49 points lower in science than their peers, the OECD said. PISA assesses the knowledge, skills and attitudes of 15-year-old students, including their ability to solve complex problems, think critically and communicate effectively. It also collects information about students’ learning environments through questionnaires. The 2025 assessment covered 91 countries and economies. A total of 8,072 Filipino students from 208 schools participated in the 2025 assessment, representing about 1.75 million 15-year-olds, or an estimated 82% of the country’s total 15-year-old population. The results highlight the need for schools to strengthen efforts to prevent bullying, as incidents both in school and online can have consequences for students’ well-being and learning. PISA allows policymakers and educators to compare education outcomes internationally and examine policies and practices that may help address these challenges. — Kaizzer Angela Marie V. Manuba