By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
In acknowledgement of the valiant efforts by Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Participating Schools and Education Partners, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his support to the institutions that continue to raise the bar of Philippine education.
During his attendance at the recognition ceremony of PISA Participating Schools at President Cory Aquino National High School in Pasay City on Monday, the President hailed the inputs of schools, learners, teachers, partners, and education partners in PISA 2025.
This reflected his sentiments in an earlier video message, where he praised the remarkable improvements in the Philippines’ performance at PISA 2025 after recording an increase of 20 points in Reading, 17 points in Science, and 16 points in Mathematics—which were significant gains compared to scores recorded in 2022.
“We thank our participating schools, our school leaders, the learners, their parents, local government partners, and everyone who contributed to this milestone. We appreciate our teachers who have spent long hours in the classroom, guiding our learners so that they can perform well in this assessment and not only within normal school hours.”
President Marcos Jr. went on to emphasize the importance of education, which ranks among the top priorities of the administration, by noting the government’s various initiatives geared towards boosting this sector:
- Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program
- First 1,000 Days Program (from conception of child to first few years of his/her life)
- Revised K-10 Curriculum
- Walang Gutom Food Program
- School-Based Feeding Program
- Increased teaching and non-teaching positions
- Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System for public school teachers
The Chief Executive went on to reassure those present at the ceremony that the government is continuing to work on enhancing safety and security protocols at schools on the heels of successive shooting incidents at Tacloban City, Zamboanga City, and South Cotabato.
He concluded by addressing the teachers and parents in his speech, “To our teachers and to our parents, continue nurturing our children’s curiosity. Encourage them to discover the world beyond their classrooms. Guide them in using our technologies so that it becomes a tool for learning.”
The PISA is a quadrennial global study held by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that tests the knowledge and skills of 15-year-old students in reading, mathematics, and science.
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