This comes after the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF) or Fulbright Philippines, along with other government agencies and the US Embassy in the Philippines, launched the Consortium for Study Abroad in the Philippines (CSAP).

鈥淐SAP is more than just a network; it is a unified national gateway,鈥� said Julio S. Amador III, executive director of Fulbright Philippines, in a news release on Monday.

鈥淏y providing this structured pathway, we ensure that students and scholars gain not only global-standard academic knowledge but also a deeper appreciation of the cultures and communities that shape our societies,鈥� he added.

Under the CSAP, the country鈥檚 top 15 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are linked to US universities to help bring American students to the Philippines for short-term courses, semester exchanges, and faculty-led programs.

Among the partner universities are Ateneo de Davao University, University of the Philippines (UP) Los Ba帽os, UP Visayas, and Silliman University.

According to the US Embassy Counselor for Public Affairs Jessica Simon, the consortium caters to the interests of American students.

鈥淭here is a growing interest among American students to pursue academic and field-based experiences in the Philippines, particularly in marine biology, agriculture, environmental science, and other disciplines,鈥� she said.

鈥淭he United States remains committed to deepening our partnership with the Philippines through scholarships and exchanges to empower our people, develop our workforce, and prosper together,鈥� she added.

Programs offered through the consortium range from Marine Biology and Tropical Medicine to Development Studies and Asian Politics.

Other specialized programs include Cetacean Survey, Mindanao Studies, Planetary Health, and History and Cultural Heritage of Manila.

CHED Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis also said that the initiative ensures a seamless transition between overseas and local educational institutions.

鈥淕lobal education today runs on reliability,鈥� she said. 鈥淧artner institutions need to know that programs are comparable, credits can be transferred, and students will be supported from admission to completion.鈥�

PAEF, established on March 23, 1948, is a non-profit, binational organization jointly sponsored by the US and Philippine governments. It has awarded scholarship grants to more than 3,000 Filipinos and over 1,000 Americans. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

The National Competitive Examination (NCE) serves as the entrance test that gives Grade 6 students from both public and private schools the opportunity to enter the PSHS system, fondly known as 鈥淧isay,鈥� the country鈥檚 premier science high school.

The number of principal qualifiers translates to roughly 8.6% of the total number of examinees, who will first fill the 1,920 available slots across 16 existing PSHS campuses, Ronnalee N. Orteza, executive director of PSHS, told reporters on the sidelines of the press conference for the NCE results announcement.

The remaining 182 slots will be filled from the 3,000 applicants on the alternative list, who did not make it to the top qualifiers but obtained above-average scores compared with the national mean of all examinees.

The national mean of the recent NCE is 84.50%, Ed Herpert D. Briones, chief administrative officer for the PSHS system, said, noting that this is slightly higher than in recent years since the exam鈥檚 reintroduction post-pandemic.

The results of the NCE for school year 2026-2027 are accessible on the PSHS website. 鈥� Edg Adrian A. Eva

鈥淲e must ensure that this milestone remains a celebration of achievement rather than a financial ordeal for our parents, especially as we navigate the economic impact of rising fuel costs,鈥� Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara said in a news release.

Under DepEd Memorandum No. 015 series of 2026, schools are reminded that participation in non-academic activities such as field trips, film showings, Junior-Senior Promenade, and other school events should not be imposed as graduation or completion requirements.

The memorandum also noted that graduation and moving-up rites must commence without collecting any fees from students. Funding for the ceremonies in public schools must come from the school鈥檚 Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) budget.

To further minimize costs, schools are encouraged to host the ceremonies in simple venues such as school grounds or covered courts instead of renting.

鈥淥ur schools must prioritize the welfare of learners by keeping these ceremonies simple, meaningful, and entirely free of unnecessary expenses,鈥� Mr. Angara said.

According to DepEd, this year鈥檚 graduation theme, 鈥淔ilipino Graduates: Prepared to Lead with Competence and Character,鈥� highlights academically equipped youth who will serve their communities and nation.

About 3.7 million graduating students are expected for School Year (SY) 2025-2026. Of which, 1.9 million are Grade 6 learners, and 1.8 million are Grade 12 students.

The end-of-school-year rites are scheduled to take place on March 30 or 31, 2026.

Trimester system

After receiving the approval from the Economy and Development (ED) Council on Friday, DepEd reaffirmed that the new three-term calendar is a decisive move needed to address long-standing issues in the academic sector, such as learning continuity.

鈥淭his reform is about making the school year work better for both learners and teachers, so that every day in school leads to deliberate and deep learning,鈥� the agency said in a statement on Monday.

DepEd said that the reform underwent a 鈥渞igorous multi-stage consultation process鈥� since January. 鈥淟earners, teachers, school leaders, parents, and other stakeholders, as well as the House of Representatives and the Senate, were engaged.鈥�

However, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines claimed that ordinary teachers had no input in the transition.

鈥淎CT said the decision to proceed with the policy鈥攄espite earlier pronouncements on the need for consultation鈥攅xposes a pattern of imposing sweeping changes without meaningful participation from rank-and-file educators,鈥� the group said in a statement on Friday.

The trimester system shifts the school calendar from four quarters to three terms and blocks.

鈥淭he shift from four quarters to three terms significantly streamlines grading cycles and reduces reporting peaks, easing administrative burden and allowing educators to concentrate on what matters most – effective instruction,鈥� DepEd said.

鈥淏y redesigning how time is structured in schools, the reform ensures learning,鈥� it added.

The new calendar will be implemented nationwide in June, as classes open for SY 2026-2027. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淚t was already mentioned that this needed consultations, but in the end, it was still approved hastily,鈥� Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Chairperson Ruby Bernardo said in Filipino in a statement on Friday.

“The responsibility of patching together a policy that lacks preparation should not be passed down again to those on the grounds,” she added.

The ED Council, during its 8th meeting chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., has approved the three-term school calendar of the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday.

This policy is seen as a 鈥渃ritical step towards improving the country鈥檚 education outcomes鈥�, according to the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).

鈥淥ur commitment to developing a globally competitive workforce begins with providing evidence-based solutions to bridge educational gaps in our country,鈥� said DEPDev Secretary and ED Council Vice-Chair Arsenio M. Balisacan in a statement.

鈥淲e commend DepEd (Department of Education) for continuously pursuing initiatives that support critical development priorities,鈥� he added.

DEPDev noted that the policy pushes for learning continuity, mitigating class disruptions caused by natural calamities, celebrations, and observances.

Data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) revealed that 53 teaching days were lost in SY 2023-2024 due to calamities, holidays, non-teaching tasks, and activities.

鈥淏y shifting from a four-grading-period system to a three-grading-period system, students will benefit from longer, uninterrupted instructional blocks, stabilizing their learning pace and recovery each term,鈥� DEPDev said in a statement.

However, ACT called the decision a 鈥渞ushed top-down reform鈥�.

The group urged the DepEd to halt its implementation and conduct genuine consultations with teachers鈥� unions and education stakeholders.

The new policy was also compared to the K to 12, underscoring the lack of preparedness during its implementation.

鈥淚t will surely fail, and those of us in the schools will be left to improvise and make up for all the shortcomings,鈥� Ms. Bernardo said. 鈥淎nd when it fails, we will be the ones to be blamed again.鈥�

For its part, the Teachers鈥� Dignity Coalition (TDC) underscored that pilot testing must be conducted before the nationwide rollout of the new school calendar.

鈥淲e are hopeful that there will be deeper and broader discussions with the stakeholders,鈥� TDC National Chairperson Benjo G. Basas said in Filipino in a video statement on Friday.

鈥淲e hope that before they implement it, there will be a pilot in one region, as we need to calibrate many aspects, including forms and material,鈥� he added.

Under the proposed trimester system, the school year will be divided into three terms. Each term consists of an opening block, the instructional block, and the enrichment block.

The opening block, or the first week of classes in the first term, will focus on orientation and assessments.

Each term will have an instructional block that lasts 54 to 61 days, followed by a two-week enrichment block for remediation and enrichment, grades computation, checking, and preparation of school forms, and a wellness break.

The first term will run from June to September, the second from September to December, and the third from January to March. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

Chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., the council approved on Thursday the Department of Education’s (DepEd) trimester system proposal, which is eyed to improve the country鈥檚 education outcomes.

鈥淭he policy, endorsed by the Social Development Committee-Cabinet Level, aims to maximize the length of learning time, often disrupted by bad weather as well as celebrations and observances,鈥� DEPDev said in a statement on Friday.

DEPDev said that the policy follows the recommendation of the Second Congressional Commission on Education to enforce a concrete plan that guarantees adequate learning time despite climate-related disruptions.

鈥淏y shifting from a four-grading period system to a three-grading-period system, students will benefit from longer, uninterrupted instructional blocks, stabilizing their learning pace and recovery each term,鈥� it said.

The new calendar is also designed to enable teachers to pursue professional development opportunities and allow dedicated periods for catch-up initiatives.

鈥淥ur commitment to developing a globally competitive workforce begins with providing evidence-based solutions to bridge educational gaps in our country,鈥� said DEPDev Secretary and ED Council Vice Chair Arsenio M. Balisacan.

鈥淲e commend DepEd for continuously pursuing initiatives that support critical development opportunities,鈥� he added.

Meanwhile, the council also terminated the existing Investment Coordination Committee approval of the Unified Grand Central Station (UGCS) project.

鈥淭his action is necessary to formally close the current project approval following the termination of the design-and-build contract and the determination that completion under the same contractual arrangement is no longer feasible,鈥� DEPdev said.

With the termination, the development of the project will now continue through separate implementation arrangements.

The council sees the decision to help facilitate the “orderly contract closeout, address pending obligations, and allow the transition to an alternative delivery approach.”

The UGCS Project will establish a common station that will link the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1, Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3, and MRT Line 7. 鈥� Justine Irish D. Tabile

鈥淲e are bringing the government closer to our learners to ensure that their transition from the classroom to the workplace is seamless and cost-free, as envisioned by President Marcos,鈥� Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara said in a statement.

The BPSF program, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), serves as a one-stop shop that offers free pre-employment documents under the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act.

With the BPSF program, each student can save up to P1000 in clearance fees and transportation costs, according to DepEd.

1,175 students across Tala National High School in Caloocan City, Makati High School in Barangay Poblacion, and Mataas na Paaralang Neptali A. Gonzales in Mandaluyong City will benefit from the program.

鈥淭his one-stop shop directly addresses the struggle of SHS Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) graduates and Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners who often miss job opportunities due to the high cost and complexity of securing pre-employment documents,鈥� the agency said.

The BPSF program also features job matching, career guidance, and job opportunities from private sector employers to help students secure job opportunities after graduation.

鈥淭hrough these reforms and partnerships, we are transforming our graduates into highly employable assets who are ready to contribute to our nation鈥檚 growth,鈥� Mr. Angara said.

About 550,000 SHS-TVL students are expected to graduate for School Year 2025-2026.

As mandated by DepEd, the End-of-School-Year (EOSY) rites are scheduled to commence on March 30 or 31, 2026. All public schools nationwide are directed to conduct simple and free graduation and moving-up ceremonies. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淭he lawmakers are warned of its direct threat to the job security of thousands of private school teachers who have specialized degrees and licenses that may not align with the newly combined subjects and tracks,鈥� the group said in Filipino in a statement.

鈥淭he precarious situation of private school teachers – who already face lack of tenure and lower wages – puts them at greater risk amid sudden policy changes,鈥� it added.

Under the new SHS curriculum, the four tracks were reduced to two: Academic and Technical Professional (TechPro), while core subjects were also cut from 15 to five to decongest learning content.

The five core subjects under the new curriculum are Effective Communication / Mabisang Komunikasyon, Life and Career Skills, General Mathematics, General Science; and Pag-aaral ng Kasaysayan at Lipunang Pilipino.

The Department of Education (DepEd) said the reform aims to foster mastery of foundational skills and improve students鈥� workforce readiness, both of which were criticized in the previous curriculum.

The new SHS curriculum was piloted in School Year (SY) 2025-2026 for Grade 11 students across 891 schools.

However, ACT noted that some private school teachers, along with other education stakeholders, claimed that DepEd did not conduct 鈥済enuine consultations鈥� before and during the pilot implementation.

鈥淭hey just created a week-long online survey and distributed a 鈥渃onsultation packet,鈥� which denied stakeholders a meaningful opportunity to be heard and to provide feedback,鈥� the group said.

Party-list Representative Antonio L. Tinio on Tuesday filed House Resolution No.836 urging the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture to investigate the 鈥減otential massive displacement鈥�.

The full implementation of the revised SHS curriculum is scheduled in June 2026, as classes begin for SY 2026-2027. 鈥�听Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淭his project reflects the marching orders of President Marcos to ensure that no Filipino learner is left behind, even in the face of the most challenging calamities,鈥� Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara said in a statement.

Data from DepEd showed that over 10,700 schools nationwide were damaged from June to October 2025, with a total estimated loss of P29.5 billion in school properties due to earthquakes, typhoons, and other calamities.

The damage has disrupted classes for more than 1.1 million learners across the country, which pushed schools to adopt various class modalities.

About 10,448 damaged schools implemented modular distance learning, 4,319 applied blended learning, 522 utilized flexible learning options, and 414 adopted online distance learning.

DepEd noted that the initiative to establish climate-resilient facilities came after the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Bogo City in September last year, which affected classes for 90 students. In the same month, Typhoon Opong disrupted classes of 270 students in Masbate.

To promote continuous learning, the newly turned-over LCS facilities in Bogo City and Masbate are equipped with solar-powered setups and internet connectivity, ensuring schools can resume after the event of natural calamities.

鈥淏y integrating solar power and digital tools into these temporary spaces, we are not just rebuilding classrooms, but building a more resilient future for our children,鈥� Mr. Angara said.

Each LCS facility takes two weeks to install, allowing schools to recover swiftly.

鈥淭he initiative also serves as a direct response to the President鈥檚 directive to slash the national classroom shortage through the use of fast-tracked, disaster-resilient infrastructure,鈥� the DepEd said.

The country鈥檚 current classroom backlog stands at 165,443, and could further worsen by 2028 due to aging facilities.

Citing data from DepEd, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) said that about 122,518 classrooms have already exceeded the standard 25-year design life, and 51,222 classrooms are expected to be condemned by 2028. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淲e will have more undergrad programs and hopefully we can increase the [batch鈥檚 cap] number,鈥� AIM Professor and Aboitiz School of Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Head Christopher P. Monterola told 大象传媒 in an interview.

鈥淭here will be a lot of things that will happen next year,鈥� he added.

The first transnational undergraduate double-degree program launched by AIM in 2022 was in partnership with the University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business.

With this collaboration, students enrolled in AIM鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Business Administration (BSDSBA) would also earn a Bachelor of Business Administration, Major in Management Information Systems (BBA, MIS) from the University of Houston.

鈥淭his is a case of one plus one larger than two. Each of us has unique strengths that we provide in a transnational educational experience which neither of us can deliver alone,鈥� University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business Dean Xianjun Geng said in a media briefing.

鈥淭he student coming from this program has a very unique competitive advantage that is really unmatched,鈥� he added.

The program aims to produce 鈥済lobally fluent professionals鈥� equipped with skills to withstand and adapt to the constant changes brought by AI.

鈥淎s a business school dean, I鈥檓 actually very optimistic at this moment that business school plays,鈥� Mr. Geng said. 鈥淥ur dual degree program is aimed to produce talent which both understand technology but possesses very critical, important soft skills.鈥�

In the Philippines, about 12.7 million Filipinos are exposed to generative AI (GenAI), according to the International Labour Organization. However, only 14.9% of firms use AI tools.

The report added that while only 3.6% of jobs have the 鈥渉ighest GenAI exposure with elevated risk of job displacement鈥� nationwide, around two in five jobs in the National Capital Region (NCR) are exposed to GenAI, particularly in the IT-BPM sector, finance, and administration.

鈥淲e know that economies, industries, and markets are all going global, so we need a global education,鈥� Mr. Monterola said.

鈥淭he total number of jobs that will be lost is about 80 million or something because of AI鈥� but the other interesting story is that there will be more jobs that will be created because of this new technology,鈥� he added. 鈥淥ur hope is that we will be able to go that way.鈥�

The transnational undergraduate double-degree program currently has 150 students, with each batch capped at 50 students.

Mr. Monterola noted that a possible increase in the number of students per batch is still under discussion with the partner university. 鈥淣ote that they also have a cap on the total number of global students that they can accommodate, and we are working on that constraint.鈥�

Possible additions to AIM鈥檚 undergraduate courses will include business and entrepreneurship programs, among others. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淭he Department is currently working on a policy that focuses on teachers’ growth and performance,鈥� it said in a statement.

The agency noted that the meeting between Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara and DepEd鈥檚 National Management Committee members discussed ways to eliminate 鈥渦nnecessary stress鈥� among educators during classroom teaching observations.

DepEd said classroom observation is a 鈥渦niform measure to assess teacher performance, identify needs, and provide support for professional development.鈥� It is also one of the significant factors considered for teachers鈥� promotion.

In January, the death of a public school teacher during the scheduled classroom observation caused groups to raise their concerns about the pressure teachers face during the evaluation process.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said that the Results-based Performance Management System (RPMS) is a 鈥渂urdensome鈥� process for teachers, causing additional stress.

Meanwhile, for the Teachers鈥� Dignity Coalition (TDC), reinstating the Performance Appraisal System for Teachers (PAST) is a 鈥渟impler and more developmental alternative鈥� to the evaluation process.

To enhance the assessment procedure, the key components of the proposed policy are Learner Evidence, Professional Artifacts, Collaboration and Professional Engagement, and a Single Classroom Observation.

Each category has a 25% weight in the overall evaluation to ensure a proportionate rating system for teachers鈥� performance.

The framework of the policy also aims to promote professional growth, effective workload management, and improved learning outcomes.

“Muli, patuloy tayong magsusulong ng mga polisiya at programa para sa ikabubuti ng ating mga kaguruan听[Again, we will continue to push for policies and programs that will benefit our teachers],鈥� Mr. Angara said in a news release.

鈥淧resident Bongbong Marcos has emphasized time and again the need to protect the welfare of our teachers鈥攁nd we remain steadfast in carrying out this directive,” he added. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淏y renewing this partnership, we are not just teaching a new language; we are opening doors to global opportunities for our teachers and learners,鈥� Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara said in a news release.

Through the DepEd鈥檚 Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL), Filipino students learn foreign languages and cultural diversity to better prepare for future global opportunities.

SPFL-Korean, launched in 2017, was established through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the DepEd and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea.

The Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines (KCC) served as the official training provider, offering immersive cultural experiences of Korean culture catered to the Filipino youth.

Under the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the program will focus on curriculum development, teacher capacity building, provision of Korean language specialists and teaching resources, and continued institutionalization of Korean as a foreign language in select high schools.

鈥淭he renewal of the agreement marks another milestone in Philippines-ROK bilateral relations, underscoring a shared commitment to educational innovation and cultural exchange,鈥� the DepEd said.

In School Year (SY) 2024-2025, 4,810 learners and 168 teachers benefited from the SPFL-Korean, which was implemented in 69 public secondary schools across 13 regions nationwide.

Apart from Korean, the SPFL also offers Spanish, French, Japanese, German, and Chinese languages in select secondary schools, in partnership with foreign institutions. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淭o all the Filipino teachers in the Middle East and other parts of the world, the doors of our public schools are open for you,鈥� Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara said in Filipino in a statement.

鈥淚f you decide to go back, the DepEd will be with you to start a new chapter of being in service,鈥� he added.

Through the Sa Pinas, Ikaw ang Ma鈥檃m at Sir (SPIMS) Program, licensed Filipino teachers working overseas will have access to a reintegration path, allowing them to transition into the public school system in the Philippines.

Eligible applicants must be Filipino citizens or Philippine passport holders who are Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) passers with at least one year of accumulated teaching experience within the last five years, and who have not resided in the Philippines for more than three consecutive years.

鈥淭he program ensures institutional coordination for a structured and orderly transition of returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) into the public education system,鈥� the DepEd said in a statement.

The SPIMS Program is an initiative led by the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (DMW-NRCO) and implemented in coordination with partner agencies, including DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), among others.

The DepEd noted that qualified applicants may be hired and appointed as Teacher I under permanent status to help address the teacher shortage. An online refresher will also be available to those who need it to better align pedagogical competencies with the current educational standards.

鈥淒epEd recognizes the valuable contributions of Filipino teachers abroad and remains steadfast in strengthening the country鈥檚 teacher workforce while upholding support mechanisms for educators, both at home and overseas,鈥� it said in a statement.

Data from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in October 2025 found that among 52,745 OFWs who participated in its reintegration programs, 656 were OFW teachers who secured public school positions through the SPIMS program. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淧PP provides a structure, a way for long-term performance to align with public interest, and that鈥檚 the core of PPPs,鈥� Aboitiz InfraCapital President and Chief Executive Officer Cosette V. Canilao said in a forum.

鈥淲hat we ask for is really just predictability in the rules, transparency in the processes, and the private sector knowing exactly when the projects are going to come out,鈥� she added.

Ms. Canilao also noted that payment modality is one of the factors that make PPP challenging.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not into social infrastructure for now鈥ocial infrastructure is really a challenge,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut then we already have a modality under the PPP code that addresses it, the availability payment mode.鈥�

鈥淲hich means I think more social infrastructure PPP projects will flourish under the new PPP code,鈥� she added.

The availability payment mode in the PPP Code of the Philippines, or Republic Act 11966, refers to predetermined payments by the implementing agency to the private sector in exchange for an asset or service under the PPP contract.

Acknowledging the challenges faced by the private and public sectors, Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara said the key to a successful PPP is striking a balance between the two.

鈥淚 guess the challenge is really finding that sweet spot,鈥� he said. 鈥淔or business to realize there鈥檚 a lot of equity involved here, and for the public sector to realize that the rules have to be fair and the gains have to be clear.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 no prohibition in the model approved by the government for all of these big companies, listed, unlisted, to come in and build these,鈥� he added.

Mr. Angara highlighted that companies can also offer proposals through different modalities.

鈥淭here are several modalities, there鈥檚 a solicited proposal, which is what the government is doing,鈥� he said.

鈥淭here鈥檚 also an unsolicited proposal, so companies are actually coming in and saying, we want to build in the Negros region, which is a thousand classrooms, because it鈥檚 much faster,鈥� he added.

The DepEd aims to build 106,000 classrooms by 2031 through the PPP for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) to address the 144,758 nationwide classroom gap. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淥verall health is important but the common illness for kids is their eyes because it affects their reading,鈥� Education Secretary Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara told reporters in an interview.

鈥淔or teachers, some of them get high blood pressure,鈥� he added.

Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), under the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), supports DepEd鈥檚 health initiative by providing free health services, such as consultations and laboratory tests.

YAKAP supports Clinics for Learners鈥� Access to School-Health Services Plus (CLASS+), linking school clinics to local health systems.

鈥淭his is really a big help because some students struggle learning because they can鈥檛 read,鈥� Mr. Angara said in Filipino. 鈥淪ome of our teachers also have headaches and body aches.鈥�

鈥淭hey don鈥檛 have enough time for check-ups, so the YAKAP program is really a big help,鈥� he added.

In Minuyan Elementary School in Bulacan, about 3,000 students are expected to benefit from the YAKAP program.

Mr. Angara also noted that there are no plans for higher health maintenance organization (HMO) coverage among teachers. 鈥淧7,000 is already generous; it鈥檚 only now that DepEd teachers are receiving HMO of P7,000.鈥�

CENTRAL LUZON TEACHERS PROMOTED
Beyond听physical well-being, Mr. Angara underscored his support for teachers鈥� career development.

On Thursday, he led the oath-taking ceremony of 1,991 teachers and school personnel from Bulacan and Pampanga.

鈥淏y streamlining and expanding promotion, we are strengthening our teachers who are key to the quality education of each Filipino child,鈥� he said in a statement.

鈥淭his is a clear indication of the President鈥檚 priority to strengthen our education system by supporting our teachers,鈥� he added.

The promoted personnel, including Teacher II to Teacher VII, Master Teachers I to III, and Principals I to IV, are part of the nationwide implementation of Republic Act No. 12288, or Career Progression for Public School Teachers and School Leaders.

The expanded career progression system has promoted over 16,000 teachers nationwide, and 40,000 applications are currently under review. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淭his is the first time in DepEd鈥檚 history that we were able to lease a private school, and this will not be the last time,鈥� Education Secretary Edgardo M. Angara told reporters in an interview.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a medium-term solution meaning, in the next one to five years, it can be a good solution because we can鈥檛 solve the 165,000 until five to 10 years,鈥� he added.

The Classroom Leasing initiative allows DepEd to occupy facilities of private schools that are not operational, including those that shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leased classrooms will be refurbished and repurposed within a few months to serve as functional learning spaces.

鈥淲e found out that about 700 to 800 private schools shut down during the pandemic,鈥� Mr. Angara said.

鈥淚f we can match it with the classroom shortage in public schools, we can lease it and we don鈥檛 have to wait for construction to finish,鈥� he added.

The program was launched in Don Manuel Rivera Memorial Integrated High School in Pila, Laguna, where senior high school students undergo scheduled shifts due to congestion.

鈥淐oincidentally, there鈥檚 a private school nearby that was closed so we leased it instead of waiting for a year while our students are cramped up,鈥� he said.

The department said Laguna is the third most congested province nationwide. Despite the province鈥檚 high enrollment rate, limited expansion space is available in some public schools.

鈥淟easing provides a cost-efficient option in areas where land acquisition is difficult or where immediate relief is needed to prevent learner displacement while larger projects are still in the pipeline,鈥� the department said in a statement.

Data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) showed that about 122,000 buildings are past their intended 25-year design lifespan.

By 2028, about 51,000 classrooms are expected to turn 50 years, which the commission warned could further worsen the current 165,000 classroom backlog. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淚n 2026, because of the big budget given by the President and the Congress, we are targeting to promote 100,000,鈥� Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara told reporters in an interview.

鈥淭he program by President Bongbong streamlines the promotion and rank of our teachers because we saw that there are teachers who have not yet been promoted from Teacher 1 for a decade,鈥� he added.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. noted that the ECP will help senior educators advance their careers through merit and competency-based approaches. Concurrently, the framework would also open opportunities for new graduates.

鈥淲e will expand our educators鈥� career paths through strategic reclassification by creating more high-level positions,鈥� he said in his speech at the oath-taking ceremony for teachers and school leaders from the National Capital Region (NCR).

鈥淲e can have senior educators move up based on merit and open new entry positions to new graduates,鈥� he added.

Among the 2,915 newly promoted personnel in NCR, 2,186 advanced through natural vacancies, while 729 were promoted through ECP reclassification.

One of the promotees, Eloisa Reyes Cruz, 64, said that the ECP system helped her be promoted from Teacher I to a Teacher III post after 10 years of service at Eusebio High School in Pasig City.

鈥淚鈥檓 very grateful because before I couldn鈥檛 be promoted because I still lacked schooling,鈥� she told reporters in Filipino. 鈥淚 missed the chance to study because of family matters.鈥�

Unlike the previous promotion system, Ms. Cruz underscored that the ECP has a faster process and less paperwork.

鈥淵ou have to process a lot of things with the normal thing, but right now, they are asking us for only a few requirements, and it鈥檚 fast,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what would happen on the second batch, but this time it took us two to three months to process,鈥� she added.

Along with a higher position, she also had a salary increase from P26,000 to P32,000.

P50,000 ENTRY-LEVEL SALARY FOR TEACHERS
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers Philippines (ACT) reiterated its call for a P50,000 entry-level salary for public school teachers, following DepEd鈥檚 discussion with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on a flexible long-term loan arrangement.

鈥淲hile we recognize DepEd鈥檚 effort to respond to the financial distress of teachers, more loans – even with longer terms – are not the solution,鈥� ACT Philippines Chairperson Ruby Bernardo said in a Facebook post on Thursday.

The group added that framing the debt crisis as a matter of 鈥渓oan restructuring鈥� risks normalizing loans as part of teachers鈥� lives.

鈥淭eachers need a P50,000 starting salary to support their families and stop depending on loans just to survive,鈥� she added.

Although Mr. Angara has expressed his support for the proposal from the teachers鈥� group, he said the decision ultimately depends on Congress鈥� approval.

鈥淥f course, we support that but it depends on the Congress because we know the budget given is already big. Whatever the Congress says we can give, we have to respect it,鈥� he told reporters in Filipino.

In 2025, a Teacher I position in public schools has a Salary Grade (SG) 11, or approximately P30,024. Meanwhile, Teachers II and III fall under SG 12 and 13 or P32,245 and P34,421, respectively. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淭here are only about 200,000 students who get retained. This means that there are students who get retained, but a very slim proportion of the 24 million students that we have,鈥� EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark R. Yee told听叠耻蝉颈苍别蝉蝉奥辞谤濒诲听in an interview.

鈥淲e really need to understand better if this is a figure that we can trust? Is this a credible figure that is representative of all those who are really struggling?鈥� he added.

In its Final Report, the commission found that separate assessment tests showed “non-proficient” students grew from 30% in Grade 3 up to 74% in Grade 12.

鈥淭he steep decline is from Grade 3, Grade 6, Grade 10, and Grade 12,鈥� Mr. Yee said.

鈥淧eople may be progressing by grade level, they keep getting promoted without really having the knowledge or ensuring that the competencies are really there,” he added.

In terms of reading proficiency, 88% of students struggle to read according to their grade level at the beginning of the school year.

For junior high school students, 40% to 52% are at least two grade levels behind in reading, based on the Philippine Informal Reading Inventory (Phil-IRI) assessment.

鈥淭hese evince the urgency of addressing mass promotion and the rolling out of well-designed interventions to address literacy gaps at the secondary level,鈥� EDCOM 2 said in its report.

鈥淟iteracy is the gateway to learning numeracy, and other competencies across subjects,鈥� it added.

‘Mass promotion culture’
A key issue underscored in EDCOM 2’s report is the country鈥檚 mass promotion culture and its correlation with other problems existing within the education system.

鈥淔or us, mass promotion is many things. There is no real policy of DepEd (Department of Education) to promote students automatically, but it is a confluence of multiple factors,鈥� Mr. Yee said.

鈥淚t is really more about looking at the system as a whole and addressing all of these barriers that stop our teachers from being able to support their students well,鈥� he added.

Teachers’ professional autonomy in deciding learners’ promotion is heavily influenced by the pressure from higher authorities in the school.

“We’ve also heard from many stories of teachers that they usually get castigated by principals or other colleagues,” Mr. Yee said. “If they fail any student they have to justify to the principal, to the division office, why a student had to fail.”

“It seems like they have to prove that they did everything and exhausted all supports available, when in fact no support or very little support was given to them themselves as teachers,” he added.

The DepEd’s policy on grade transmutation also amplifies the demand to pass all students despite not meeting the expected skills and knowledge.

In the Transmutation Table from DepEd Order No. 8 s. 2015, the initial grade of 60 to 61.59 is transmuted to 75, or about a 15-point increase.

“We have constantly been repeating and advocating that it is time to review that policy, maybe phase it out at the soonest possible time,” he said. “It is giving us a semblance of normality, or that everything is okay when in fact it is not.”

EDCOM 2 proposes reconfigurations of the Results-Based Performance Management System (RPMS) and Office Performance Commitment and Review Form (OPCRF) to ensure that no incentives are given related to learners’ promotion.

鈥淭he performance of the school is tied to completion rate, passing rates, zero dropout rates, and therefore, it is all connected,鈥� Mr. Yee said.

鈥淎s long as we keep doing that, we are really unintentionally reinforcing mass promotion,听which is why our position is we need to revise our targets,” he added.

In January, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers Philippines called for the review of RPMS following the death of a public school teacher during her scheduled classroom observation. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

The Philippines may experience an economic slowdown fueled by the low proficiency levels of students, as literacy rates in both local and international assessments decline.

鈥淎 decline in literacy weakens human capital, lowers workers鈥� ability to adapt to technology, and limits movement into higher-value jobs,鈥� John Paolo R. Rivera, senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), told 大象传媒 in a Viber message.

鈥淚f this trend is not reversed, the Philippines risks slower long-term growth, weaker competitiveness, and deeper inequality, as more Filipinos remain trapped in low-skill, low-pay work while other countries move up the value chain,鈥� he added.

The foundational learning crisis has been a long-term problem for the country for at least 30 years, according to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).

鈥淚f you see our curriculum for the past three decades, it’s very ambitious, it’s very aspirational. You go from so many types of literary texts, you study poems, short stories, extended essays,鈥� EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark R. Yee told 大象传媒 in an interview.

鈥淏ut (it) turns out our challenge was illiteracy and the lack of ability to comprehend complex texts,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e need a curriculum that adapts to the learner, and we need to strategize and prioritize because we can’t expect them to learn everything.鈥�

Functionally illiterate Filipinos on the rise
Data from the agency showed that about 24.8 million Filipinos were functionally illiterate in 2025, nearly doubling from the 14.5 million in 1993.

The same concern was evident in the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which showed 18.9 million Filipinos aged 10 to 64 were considered functionally illiterate.

Functional illiteracy, as defined by the local statistics agency, is the ability to read, write, and compute, but lacks comprehension skills.

One of the most alarming markers flagged by Mr. Yee is the poor performance of elementary students, specifically in grades 1 to 3, where 85% are struggling to read, and only 15% can read according to their grade level.

鈥淲e need to focus on the foundation,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e really need literacy until grade 3 because without that, you cannot keep moving them up to further grade levels to learn the other complex tasks.鈥�

The SEA-PLM 2024 report
In the 2024 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM), Filipino grade 5 students were lagging in reading and mathematics within the region.

The study revealed that only 13% of learners were considered to have reached the minimum reading proficiency, while 14% have reached the minimum proficiency in mathematics.

鈥淚f you look at the global data, it is really declining, which is why we’re not the only ones saying there’s a crisis – almost all are facing their own crisis,鈥� Mr. Yee said.

鈥淓xcept that for us, because this is perhaps the first time that we are confronting this鈥� It is clear to us that we are not alone. There鈥檚 a lot of us, and many have already succeeded,鈥� he added.

Economic effects of the learning crisis
The decades-long learning crisis will have lasting implications for the country鈥檚 future workforce, Federation of Free Workers President Jose Sonny G. Matula said. 鈥淚f literacy rates keep falling, the long-term risk is that the economy becomes locked into low value-added work.鈥�

鈥淭hat means slower productivity growth, weaker ability to absorb technology, reduced competitiveness in higher-skill manufacturing and services, and greater inequality because fewer workers can move up the skills ladder,鈥� he added in a Viber message.

Mr. Matula noted that the industries that could be affected by workers lacking foundational literacy skills include manufacturing and production lines, construction, and OSH-sensitive work, logistics and inventory systems, customer handling and documentation services, and gig work where workers must navigate apps, terms, ratings, and digital pay systems.

鈥淎t the macro level, declining literacy undermines human capital – so GDP growth becomes harder to sustain, more fragile, and less inclusive because productivity improvements stall,鈥� he said.

鈥淎 major gap is the tendency to treat literacy as a ‘school issue only鈥� when it is also a labor, economic, and social protection issue,鈥� he added.

Leonardo A. Lanzona, an economics professor at Ateneo De Manila University, said that roughly one year of schooling can lead to a 7% increase in wages. 鈥淲e can perhaps infer that illiteracy is close to losing 7% of wages per year.鈥�

Analysts underscored that persistent low learning outcomes could lead to significant economic losses.

鈥淕lobal studies suggest learning losses can cost countries several percentage points of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) over the long run through lower lifetime earnings, weaker productivity, and reduced tax revenues,鈥� Mr. Rivera said.

鈥淔or the Philippines, persistent poor literacy could mean billions of pesos in foregone income annually, especially as the economy becomes more digital and skills intensive.鈥�

Citing the data from the World Literacy Foundation in 2023, Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development Director Ser Percival K. Pe帽a-Reyes echoed similar worries, stating that lost earnings, reduced productivity, and limited employability caused by illiteracy could cost $4.72 billion or P277 billion annually.

He added that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also warned of a potential $17 trillion in lost lifetime earnings for the current generation globally without intervention.

鈥淭hese numbers highlight the severe learning crisis in the Philippines, especially post-pandemic,鈥� he told 大象传媒 in a Viber message.

By 2028, Mr. Yee said EDCOM 2 is seeking around 30% improvement in the reading proficiency of grade 3 students, raising the grade-level readers from 43% to 75% within three years.

Reforms underway
鈥淥ur proposal is that by 2028, we hope that 75% of all of our grade 3 students are reading at their grade level,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat will be a very good start because it means that we have seriously undertaken the reforms needed.鈥�

The Department of Education (DepEd) aims to address learning gaps through different education reforms and initiatives, such as the ARAL (Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning) program.

The ARAL program, launched on Sept. 13, is mandated under Republic Act No. 12028 and aims to provide tutorial support for kindergarten to grade 10 learners in reading, mathematics, and science.

In the 2026 budget for education, P8.93 billion will be allocated to the ARAL program to ensure learning gaps are addressed by “adequately trained and fairly compensated” tutors.

鈥淓DCOM has long called for the decongestion of the curriculum, especially from Grades 1 to 3, to focus on foundational skills, especially literacy,鈥� said EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark R. Yee in a news release.

The commission said that the study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) on the first-year pilot implementation of the MATATAG K-to-10 Curriculum highlighted the importance of curriculum reform as it showed significant improvements among Grade 2 students across all subjects.

鈥淭he significant learning gains we are seeing in Grade 2 students validate EDCOM 2鈥檚 core advocacy: that by decongesting the curriculum and prioritizing foundational mastery, we give our learners a real fighting chance鈥�, EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Rep. Roman T. Romulo added.

The lack of mastery in foundational competencies during the early years of schooling is one of the root causes of the declining proficiency level among Filipino students as they progress in school, according to a separate report by the commission last Friday.

Citing the 2024 Early Language, Literacy, and Numeracy Assessment (ELLNA) data, EDCOM 2 said only 30.52% of Grade 3 learners were considered 鈥減roficient鈥� or 鈥渉ighly proficient鈥�.

Moving towards Grade 6, the 2024 National Achievement Test (NAT) shows that the proficiency rate drops to 19.56%, and drastically declines to only 1.36% in Grade 10, and 0.4% in Grade 12.

鈥淥nly about 14 in every 1,000 students at Grade 10, and 4 in every 1,000 at Grade 12, can demonstrate skills such as problem solving, managing and communicating information, and analyzing and evaluating data to create or formulate ideas,鈥� the commission said.

Along with curriculum decongestion, the commission noted that adequate support for teachers must be available to help them keep up with the reforms. Other studies by PIDS reported that although teachers have improved flexibility in lesson delivery, it has also increased the time spent on lesson planning and preparation.

鈥淲e cannot expect our teachers to carry the weight of reform through sheer grit alone,鈥� Mr. Romulo said.

鈥淔or these gains to be sustainable and scalable, we must match curriculum changes with robust instructional support, timely learning materials, and genuine concern for teacher wellbeing,鈥� he added. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淭he lesson here clearly shows that when you focus on a child, give them time, and provide the right support, they learn,鈥� Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara said in Filipino in a news release.

鈥淭his is not a miracle鈥攊t is the result of hard work carried out collectively by teachers and the community,鈥� he added.

The nationwide literacy crisis is one of the key factors that fueled the launch of the BBMP program. Data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) in December 2025 showed that only 15% of students in grades 1 to 3 are grade-level readers, while 85% are considered 鈥渟truggling readers.鈥�

The BBMP program is an initiative that aims to help struggling readers reach grade-level proficiency through a multi-sectoral approach involving teachers, volunteer tutors, parents, barangay officials, medical professionals, and private sector partners.

The program was piloted in elementary schools across Region 9 as part of the agency鈥檚 2025 Summer Program and is soon to be rolled out nationwide under the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program.

鈥淲ithout the program, data showed that many learners would have experienced learning losses during school breaks instead of gains,鈥� the DepEd said.

The post-program report, which was a collaboration between the World Bank and DepEd, showed that learning gains under the BBMP were estimated to be four to five times faster than those typically achieved through regular classroom instruction over a comparable timeframe.

The report also underscored that among grade 2 students in Filipino, grade-level readers increased from 2.23% to 26.22%, about 24% increase after completion of the program.

Meanwhile, the reading proficiency levels of learners also rose from 1.28 to 2.40.

The DepEd noted that observations from the field, such as improved confidence and class participation among struggling readers, were aligned with the quantitative results of the report. 鈥淭eachers reported that struggling readers became more willing to read aloud and engage in class within days of targeted instruction.鈥�

One of the field implementers, however, raised concerns about the impacts of parents on children鈥檚 literacy rates.

鈥淲e are gradually working to establish reading corners in the students鈥� homes by providing localized learning materials鈥o that students can continue practicing and engaging with the lessons outside school,鈥� the report said, citing the field implementer.

鈥淚ssues on parents鈥� literacy levels persist and affect learner engagement,鈥� it added. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淲e are challenging Secretary Angara; while we want more youth engaging and loving our sports, let鈥檚 also give consideration to our teachers,鈥� ACT Chairperson Ruby Bernardo told听大象传媒听in an interview.

鈥淲e are closely monitoring so that no teachers will be at a disadvantage in terms of overtime pay and additional compensation,鈥� she added.

Ms. Bernardo noted that although public schools have produced award-winning athletes, the realities on the ground require improvement.

鈥淥ur athletes, like Hidilyn Diaz, who came from a public school, were encouraged and trained by our teachers. More teachers will be encouraged to train students if there is good compensation,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 think our schools are not ready to facilitate the training of the kids, and our teachers also require compensation,鈥� she added.

The shortage of sports facilities and the lack of proper funding are among the concerns flagged by the group.

鈥淥ur teachers, who are also coaches, are complaining about overtime pay for the training,鈥� Ms. Bernardo said. 鈥淭hey also have to sometimes pay for the travel allowance, clothes, and other sports gear during the children鈥檚 contests.鈥�

The government is gradually reincorporating sports into the Education department to instill discipline, camaraderie, and sportsmanship among students, according to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier this month.

鈥淒epEd was previously called DECS – Department of Education, Culture and Sports. Sports were then removed from schools,鈥� he said in Filipino during a speech at the Cagayan Provincial Athletic Association (CPAA) Meet.

鈥淲e are slowly restoring sports into schools so that all our youth can experience sports, build physical strength, and learn how to work with a team and interact with others,鈥� he added.

From 1984 to 2001, the Education department covered elementary, secondary, and nonformal education, including culture and sports. In 2001, under Republic Act 9155, known as the Governance of Basic Education Act, the department shifted its focus to basic education, removing sports and culture from its scope. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淎s a parent myself, I know how heavy the responsibility of caring for and guiding a child can be,鈥� Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara said in Filipino in a statement.

鈥淲hen families and schools work together in shaping values and creating a better understanding of what children are going through, learners are better supported, and the work of teachers becomes lighter,鈥� he added.

The Kaagapay program, which aims to align the values taught in schools with parental upbringing, will be implemented through parent engagement sessions and advocacy campaigns.

鈥淭he sessions are structured to help parents situate their role within DepEd鈥檚 curriculum and learner development priorities before moving into learning discussions on socio-emotional and values support, positive discipline, bullying awareness, and home鈥搒chool鈥揷ommunity partnership,鈥� the DepEd said.

Although participation is voluntary, the agency underscored that all parents and caregivers of public school students are encouraged to participate in the sessions to prevent stigma and ensure proper representation of different family structures and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Sessions may be conducted face-to-face, modular, and asynchronous to cater to parents鈥� different schedules and circumstances.

The DepEd added that the rollout of the Kaagapay program, which has a P100 million budget allocation, complements the P2.9-billion allocation for the School-Based Mental Health Program, which includes suicide prevention in schools.

In 2025, several school-based violence were reported, prompting the government to strengthen mechanisms for reporting and addressing incidents involving child abuse, bullying, violence, exploitation, discrimination plus gang-related activities on campus.

A lawmaker has also pushed for the designation of mental health counselors in all public schools, including state universities and colleges, to reverse the 鈥渄isturbingly increasing rates鈥� of depression, anxiety, and even self-harm or suicidal ideation among young Filipinos.

Under House Bill 163, or 鈥淢ental Health and Digital Wellbeing for Youth Act of 2025鈥� by Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. Vincenzo Renato Luigi R. Villafuerte, it mandates annual mental health screenings, the establishment of safe spaces for emotional processing, and training programs for teachers in trauma-informed and empathy-based approaches.鈥斕�Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淲e鈥檙e ordering a review of the policy. Actually, that鈥檚 under review because that鈥檚 the complaint of the teachers that sometimes the environment has too much pressure,鈥� Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara told reporters in an interview.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we didn鈥檛 make it a sole basis. Before, it was the sole basis, and the visits were a surprise. We made it scheduled so the monitor, reviewer, and teacher can discuss their availability,鈥� he added.

Classroom observation is one of the factors considered in teachers鈥� promotion.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a long-standing traditional way of reviewing teachers. Before, it was the only thing used in reviewing. We have changed it now, it鈥檚 only one of many factors considered,鈥� said Mr. Angara.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit relaxed in the sense that it鈥檚 not too pressure-packed,鈥� he added, citing review and feedback from the community as other considerations.

The death of Agnes Buenaflor, a teacher from Pedro E. Diaz High School in Muntinlupa City, on Wednesday has sparked calls for policy review and suspension among several groups.

The Teachers鈥� Dignity Coalition (TDC) on Friday urged the agency to suspend classroom observations and reinstate the Performance Appraisal System for Teachers (PAST), which the group claims is a 鈥渟impler and more developmental alternative.鈥�

鈥淐lassroom observations must remain a supportive and formative process aimed at improving pedagogy and professional growth, and should never function as a punitive or judgmental mechanism,鈥� TDC Chairperson Benjo G. Basas said in a statement on Friday.

鈥淭eachers, particularly seasoned ones, are trained professionals who deserve policies that uphold professional trust, well-being, and dignity,鈥� he added.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) echoed the same concern, highlighting the 鈥渂urdensome鈥� Results-based Performance Management System (RPMS).

Mr. Angara said, however, that the evaluation had no relation to the death of Ms. Buenaflor, linking it to medical concerns. 鈥淏ased on our investigation, there was no coercion or intimidation. Teacher Agnes had a medical condition that day.鈥� 鈥�听Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淩ight now, only 1.5 million are affected,鈥� Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara听told reporters in an interview.

鈥淥nce we finish our curriculum, hopefully by the second quarter鈥t will be released nationwide because it鈥檚 a national curriculum everyone will benefit from it,鈥� he added.

The Project Accelerating Governance and Adaptive Pedagogy through Artificial Intelligence (Project AGAP.AI) is a large-scale capacity-building program for AI initiatives in basic education, funded by the ASEAN Foundation and powered by Google.org.

Under the program, a nationwide AI training, branded as AI Ready ASEAN Philippines, is expected to introduce AI in plain language by teaching fundamentals, practical classroom usage, ethics, data privacy, and addressing risks such as misinformation.

The reform to integrate the AI concept into the curriculum and teacher training is also supported by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology鈥檚 (MIT) Responsible AI for Social Empowerment & Education (RAISE) initiative and the Day of AI Initiative.

To complement classroom implementation, the AI-focused training modules for teachers will be rolled out in the second quarter of 2026.

鈥淔or teachers, [we are going to train them] how they can maximize, how can we make them more efficient and how to teach it,鈥� Mr. Angara said.

鈥淔or students, how to research, and then, it鈥檚 gamified, as you can see, that鈥檚 why it鈥檚 attractive to students. It鈥檚 like they鈥檙e just playing,鈥� he added.

Emerging AI-powered tools developed by the Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR) will also be piloted this year to support teaching, assessment, and school management. The DepEd said utilizing the new platforms will help strengthen data-driven and evidence-based decision-making within the education system.

鈥淎I should not be a replacement for, as the President said in his speech, it鈥檚 not a replacement for hard work, for actual studying, for actual reading,鈥� Mr. Angara said.

鈥淓thical use of AI is part of our training. What does that mean? We need to have rules. It鈥檚 not because it鈥檚 there that we鈥檙e going to use it to replace traditional thinking,鈥� he added.

According to the National AI Strategy (NAIS PH) project of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), the Philippines has set its goal to become an AI-powered country by 2028. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

“The AB-PAI is our commitment to developing human-centered AI leaders who can ensure these powerful tools are used for social good and global welfare,鈥� Benito L. Teehankee, one of the course designers, said in a statement.听

The transdisciplinary degree, which bridges humanities and technology, is a collaboration between the university鈥檚 College of Liberal Arts, the College of Computer Studies, and the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business.听

Topics to be discussed in the program include ethics, governance, and regulatory considerations in the development and deployment of AI.听

Mr. Teehankee noted that one of the drivers of the new program is the rising demand for AI-skilled workers. 鈥淭he rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence demands professionals who can not only build new technologies but also critically assess their impact on society.鈥�听

As the emerging technology continues to expand across different industries, online learning platform Coursera underscored that Filipino learners are striving to meet the demands that come with the听new technology.听

Data from the platform鈥檚 year-end report showed that the Philippines recorded around 125,000 generative AI enrollments in 2025,听mainly in听courses offered by Google, IBM, and听DeepLearning.AI.听

According to the 2025 Future of Jobs report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), AI, big data, networks, cybersecurity, and technological literacy are among the most in-demand skills by 2030.听

The report added that AI and other technologies are expected to displace nine million jobs within the next five years. However, it would also create about 11 million new positions by 2030.听

DepEd鈥檚 AI Center
To help more Filipino learners prepare and adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape, the Department of Education (DepEd) vowed to听allocate听P100 million to听establish听an AI center for Filipino learners and educators.听

Education Secretary Juan Edgardo 鈥淪onny鈥� M. Angara, in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, said that the agency has also partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to review the new AI curriculum, which is scheduled to be completed by the first quarter or early second quarter of 2026.听

“We put up an AI center, and together with the MIT, we are finalizing the AI curriculum of the Philippines,” Mr. Angara said in Filipino. 鈥淭he help from MIT is听free,听they offered it to us to review our curriculum.鈥濃��听Almira Louise S. Martinez听

Edison David, an executive headteacher in the London Borough of Lambeth, and a lead inspector for Ofsted, the UK鈥檚 national education body, was part of the 2025 New Year Honors List, published in the Gazette, the official newspaper of the Crown.听听

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 doing my job, thinking that I would get an MBE one day; not even in my dreams, that I think that I鈥檓 going to get an MBE because this is such an ultimate accolade,鈥� Mr. David told听大象传媒听in an interview on Tuesday.听听听

鈥淚 make sure that I work hard on a daily basis, I always give my best to everything that I do because if I don鈥檛 start anything at the point of excellence, there鈥檚 no point in doing it,鈥� he added.听听听

Before moving abroad, Mr. David began his teaching career in a public school in Tarlac City in 1994.听听听

鈥淚 think my experience is a testament that anything and everything is possible if you work hard,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not one thing that happens听overnight,听you really have to work hard for it; the accolades come as a consequence of your hard work.鈥澨�听

鈥淣ever in my wildest dreams have I thought that first and foremost I鈥檓 going to be a school leader in the United Kingdom, but also that I will be given a membership to the most excellent order of the British Empire,鈥� he added. 听

The MBE is the third-highest ranking Order of the British Empire level, excluding a knighthood/damehood, trailing behind Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).听听

An individual is recognized as an MBE for their 鈥渙utstanding achievement, or service to the community that has had a long-term, significant impact.鈥澨�听

Among the known personalities appointed an MBE are English singer-songwriter Adele and professional football manager and former player Steven Gerrard.听听

In 2023, Filipino nurse Brenda Deocampo was also awarded the MBE medal for her excellence in managing the admitting ward during the COVID-19 pandemic at Charing Cross Hospital.听听

RECOMMENDATIONS TO PHL鈥橲 EDUCATION LEADERS听
Before receiving his recognition from the UK, Mr. David said he had already reached out to different government officials in the Philippines, including Senator Paolo Benigno 鈥淏am鈥� Aquino IV, who heads the Senate education committee, to help improve the country鈥檚 education system.听听听

鈥淚 think what听is most important as well for the Philippines itself is听probably a听recognition that there are Filipinos out there who have earned a lot of knowledge and wisdom that they can share within the Philippine education system,鈥� he said.听听听

鈥淭he recommendations I gave are actually very听clear,听they鈥檙e quite precise,鈥� he added. 鈥淚f they have time to read them, they will find the wisdom and the knowledge in it because it鈥檚 actually backed by evidence.鈥澨�听

One of the key recommendations made by Mr. David tackled the importance of synthetic phonics and the systemized approach to its implementation nationwide.听听听

鈥淚 think every single school in the country, in the Philippines, should be able to teach synthetic phonics as a way,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here should be a comprehensive reading program that, first and foremost, relies on synthetic phonics.鈥澨�听

鈥淭he ability to discern and really听understand听what听the text is actually telling you involves the improvement of skills around inference and deduction, and most basically, the ability to decode as fluently as possible,鈥� he added.听听

Data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) found that about 24.8 million Filipinos are functionally illiterate or those who struggle to comprehend and use written information in daily tasks. 鈥�听Almira Louise S. Martinez听听

鈥淩eports from the ground indicate continued uncertainty and uneven implementation regarding the release of the SRI, with concerns that only partial amounts may be disbursed or that release may be delayed beyond the year,鈥� Alliance of Concerned Teachers Philippines Chairman Ruby Bernardo said in a statement.

鈥淎ny delay or reduction of the SRI would severely undermine its intended purpose and further demoralize education workers who have already sacrificed much,鈥� she added.

Under Administrative Order No. 40, eligible DepEd personnel with regular, contractual, and co-terminus appointments nationwide are expected to receive a P20,000 incentive, to be released in two tranches and directly credited to the employees鈥� ATM payroll.

The first release will amount to P10,000 to P14,500, while the remaining balance will be released after the approval of the request for modification of allotments.

The DepEd said on Dec. 20 that it will begin releasing year-end incentives to its employees, which include the SRI, Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI), the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) incentive for eligible personnel, and gratuity pay for contract-based workers.

Although the last banking day for the year is on Dec. 29, Ms. Bernardo said the group is still hopeful that all the agencies involved will 鈥渁ct decisively鈥� and release the entire incentive before the year ends in honor of the 鈥渋ndispensable role鈥� of teachers in public education and service.

鈥淭he SRI has become an important form of relief amid persistent inflation, delayed benefits, and mounting household expenses, especially during the holiday season,鈥� Ms. Bernardo said.

鈥淭imely and full compliance will demonstrate the government鈥檚 commitment to honoring its obligation to teachers and education workers, not merely in words but in action,鈥� she added.

About one million teaching and non-teaching DepEd staff are set to receive the SRI, PEI, gratuity pay, and CNA incentives. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

鈥淲e had a discussion with teachers who are worried about their ATM (Automated Teller Machine) payroll that was garnished by atrocious lending companies operating as loan sharks,鈥� Teachers Dignity Coalition National Chairman Benjo G. Basas said in Filipino in a video statement on Wednesday.

鈥淲e are not dismissing the liability of our fellow teachers who were not careful or vigilant,鈥� he added. 鈥淗owever, they should not be squeezed dry financially or have all of the money that goes into their ATM be taken because of garnishment.鈥�

Teaching professionals often take loans from private lending institutions (PLI) due to insufficiency fueled by economic challenges, said Mr. Basas.

鈥淭his propensity to borrow is not because of the teachers鈥� personal interest or desire to take on debt. This is caused by insufficiency. This is because of the economic challenges our teachers face every day,鈥� he said.

In the written appeal to the Department of Education (DepEd), TDC noted that financially struggling teachers have been lured by private lending institutions (PLI) into loan agreements that have 鈥渄eceptive terms, excessive penalties, unconscionable fees, and compounded interest.鈥�

鈥淭his appeal is made for teachers and DepEd employees who鈥攁fter already being victimized, harassed, and financially penalized鈥攁re now facing yet another devastating blow: the inability to provide for and celebrate the holiday season with their families,鈥� the group said.

鈥淲hen borrowers inevitably fall behind, these institutions resort to legal maneuvers designed to secure court orders of garnishment, effectively stripping teachers of their salaries and leaving them financially incapacitated,鈥� it added.

The group also raised concerns about reports on certain personnel from the Schools Division Offices (SDO) who have directly and indirectly accommodated the said PLIs that placed teachers in financial jeopardy.

鈥淭his appeal is made for teachers and DepEd employees who鈥攁fter already being victimized, harassed, and financially penalized鈥攁re now facing yet another devastating blow: the inability to provide for and celebrate the holiday season with their families,鈥� it added.

Along with the matter raised by the group, TDC has appealed that the year-end incentives of teachers be given in cash or check upon request.

鈥淕ranting this request would help spare them from an extremely difficult and distressing situation鈥攕o severe that some have felt compelled to personally go to Malaca帽ang to seek the President鈥檚 mercy,鈥� it said.

On Dec. 20, the Education department announced that it would begin releasing year-end incentives to approximately one million eligible DepEd employees nationwide.

Teachers and non-teaching personnel are set to receive P20,000 Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) and P5,000 Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI).

Meanwhile, non-teaching staff would receive an additional P10,000 Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) incentives, and contractual and job order workers could receive up to P7,000 gratuity pay, depending on their length of service.鈥� Almira Louise Martinez

鈥淢ost of our teachers were teaching a subject they did not study or learn from themselves,鈥� EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark R. Yee said during his presentation at an event.

鈥淭he fields that we are truly lacking are STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) teachers, teachers of GMRC (good moral and right conduct) or Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (EsP), and teachers of MAPEH (music, arts, physical education, and health),鈥� he added.

Data from the commission found that 62% of secondary education teachers are teaching without a proper educational background for the subject.

Physical science had the highest subject-teacher mismatch at 98%, followed by EsP at 94% and biological sciences at 80%.

Agriculture and fisheries, along with MAPEH are at 70%, while technology and livelihood education (TLE) is at 69%.

Other subjects affected by the mismatch are araling panlipunan (56%), science (51%), Filipino (45%), English (34%), and math (18%).

鈥淲e had a lot of questions from teachers. They are asking 鈥淪ir, how can I teach science well? I finished English. How can I teach math well? I finished TLE鈥�,鈥� the EDCOM 2 official said.

Mr. Yee noted that the specialization mismatch stems from improper scholarship allocations in teacher education.

鈥淲e have not done supply and demand mapping and strategic allocations of scholarships, in a way that resolves our own problems as a country and even just specifically public schools,鈥� he said.

鈥淚f you look at all programs of higher education today, most of them are either elementary education or English education; teaching English in secondary,鈥� he added.

A study by the EDCOM 2 and the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in November also underscored the same concern, linking it to teacher shortage.

Under Department Order (DO) No. 13, series of 1994, teachers must be assigned to subjects aligned with their academic background. However, the study said the policy鈥檚 implementation is hindered by 鈥渟ystemic limitations,鈥� including limited professional deployment opportunities.

The Department of Education (DepEd) said earlier this month that it aims to hire more than 32,000 Teacher I in 2026 to address the nationwide teacher shortage while 20,000 teaching positions are slated for hiring and deployment for FY 2025. 鈥� Almira Louise S. Martinez

Out of over 350 entries and 10 finalists from science high schools across the country, the young听Cavite帽o听innovators from Cavite Science Integrated School prevailed in the third iteration of the competition, AA M.听Abjelina, head of public relations and corporate social responsibility (CSR) for Samsung Philippines, told听大象传媒.听

Project leader Harly P. Bautista said their winning entry, called “Mangrove Health Monitor (MaHeMo),” is a low-cost, solar-powered floating device that provides communities with early-warning monitoring of mangrove health.听

It uses sensors to听monitor听the mangrove’s water salinity, pH, and temperature, which can help听indicate听if the mangroves are at risk of damage.听

“If it detects that the mangroves are slowly declining, it can send early warning signs to a dashboard through LoRa (Long Range) and notify communities and local government units, so they can take action and prevent damage,” Ms. Bautista said.听

She added that the project was inspired by her desire to protect mangroves, which are facing decline, as her family personally听benefits听from the resources they provide. The mangroves support her family and community by serving as a habitat for various fish species and as a natural barrier against flooding caused by storms.听

A report from the Climate Change Commission said that the Philippines has lost听a significant portion听of its mangrove forest over the past century. From an estimated 450,000 hectares in 1920, coverage declined to 317,500 hectares by听1990 and听further decreased to 311,400 hectares in the most recent statistics.听

The team has already created a model of听MaHeMo听and will conduct its first field testing in the project leader鈥檚 hometown.听

Following their win, the听team鈥檚 school听will receive P500,000 worth of Samsung devices, while four team members and their听adviser听will receive P250,000 worth of Samsung devices. The team members will also receive P100,000 in cash, and their adviser will receive P30,000 in cash.听

The second-prize winner, also from Cavite Science Integrated School, will receive P300,000 worth of Samsung devices for their school, P250,000 worth of Samsung devices for the team and their teacher, and a cash prize of P70,000 for the team members and P25,000 for the teacher adviser.听

The third-prize winner, from Tuguegarao City Science High School, will also receive a similar set of prizes听which听include听gadgets and cash.听

Meanwhile, Ms.听Abjelina听said Samsung鈥檚 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-based competition encourages students to听participate听in solving community challenges by creating tech solutions.听

“We don’t develop technology for the sake of it. We want our technology to really make people’s lives better. That is why in this contest, we also encourage students to do the same,” Ms.听Abjelina听said.听

The 鈥淪olve for Tomorrow 2025鈥� competition is fully funded by Samsung Electronics, Ms. Abjelina added, and the company plans to continue the annual contest next year, again engaging public science high schools across the country. 鈥斕�Edg听Adrian A. Eva听