President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday said the Philippines’ improved performance in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reflects the impact of reforms and sustained support for learners, teachers, and schools.
Speaking at a thanksgiving gathering for PISA-participating schools and education partners, Marcos cited the country’s gains across all three assessment areas compared with the 2022 cycle.
The Philippines posted a 20-point increase in Reading, 17 points in Science, and 16 points in Mathematics, its highest achievement since joining PISA in 2018.
“Magagaling ang mga estudyante natin basta tama ang pagkaturo (Our students are capable as long as they are taught properly),” Marcos said.
The President said the assessment results also showed the value of teaching approaches that go beyond simply asking students for the correct answer and instead encourage them to understand questions and concepts more deeply.
The PISA 2025 assessment involved 8,702 15-year-old learners from 208 schools nationwide.
The share of learners reaching at least Level 2, or baseline proficiency, also increased to 31 percent in Reading, 31 percent in Science, and 21 percent in Mathematics.
Marcos attributed the progress to the combined efforts of teachers, parents, schools, local governments, and other education partners.
He cited programs including the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program, the revised K to 10 curriculum, feeding initiatives, and expanded support for teachers and school personnel.
The President said the government also cited the hiring of 10,000 school counselor associates for the current school year as part of efforts to promote safer and more positive learning environments.
Despite the gains, Marcos acknowledged that the Philippines still has considerable ground to cover.
“We have improved from 2022, but we have a long way to go to catch up with our neighbors in the region, with the rest of Asia, and with the rest of the world,” he said.
He said the latest results should reinforce efforts to provide learners and teachers with the support they need to perform better.
The President said strengthening the education system requires support across the entire learning environment.
“So it is a whole system that has to come together,” he said, noting that feeding programs and other interventions are part of ensuring that learners enter classrooms ready to learn.
Marcos urged teachers and parents to continue nurturing children’s curiosity and encouraged learners to ask questions, consider different perspectives, and remain open to new knowledge.
“Let us teach our children to question. Let us teach our children to understand,” he said.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) administers PISA, which measures how 15-year-old learners apply Reading, Mathematics, and Science skills. (PNA)
