PH education gains in PISA demand 'continuous effort' for reforms

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has recorded its highest scores to date in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), showing significant improvements across science, mathematics, and reading. The nation was also recognized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as the fastest-improving country in reading over the past decade, a remarkable achievement since its first participation in 2018. Despite this progress, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called for a reassessment of the country’s education policies and emphasized the need for "collective effort and collaboration" to strengthen the education system for the benefit of millions of Filipinos in the years to come. He underscored the importance of equipping Filipino children with the skills necessary to understand the world. Senator Joel Villanueva echoed this sentiment, stating that the latest PISA results should inspire hope and urgency. He stressed the necessity of continued investment in teacher education and training, as well as providing schools with additional resources, even after achieving substantial results. Villanueva also commended the Department of Education for its improved scores across its three domains, noting the hard work of teaching personnel and the people behind EDCOM II, or the Second Congressional Commission on Education, a reform aimed at addressing the country’s learning crisis. "The results of PISA 2018 that exposed the learning crisis in the country were the main trigger for the establishment of EDCOM 2 in 2022… it is only fitting that we recognize and honor EDCOM II, especially the dedication and excellence of our Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee. His leadership and unwavering hard work have exceeded our expectations and have been key to ensuring that reforms in our education sector have a clear, rapid, and meaningful direction," he said. Developed in 2022 in response to the learning crisis reflected in the 2018 PISA results, EDCOM II helped reform the country’s education sector rather than offer single solutions or isolated hearings within the system. EDCOM II also enabled the advancement and expansion of reforms in the basic education system, including the Excellence in Teacher Education Act, the Expanded Career Progression System for Public School Teachers, and the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program. While the PISA improvements indicate progress in the Philippine education system, lawmakers insist that sustained effort and policy support are crucial to maintain this momentum and ensure quality education for all Filipinos.