THE Philippines posted its best-ever performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), recording significant gains in Science, Mathematics and Reading as lawmakers and education officials called for sustained and expanded investments in education reforms.
Filipino 15-year-olds scored 373 in Science, 371 in Mathematics and 367 in Reading in PISA 2025, up by 17, 16 and 20 points, respectively, from the country’s 2022 results.
The latest scores also surpassed the Philippines’ 2018 performance in all three subjects, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The improvement was particularly notable as the Philippines bucked the overall OECD trend. From 2022 to 2025, average OECD scores declined by three points in Science, nine points in Mathematics and 14 points in Reading, while the Philippines posted gains across all three areas.
The country recorded the fastest growth in Reading among participating countries and ranked among the most improved in Mathematics. In Science, where many countries registered declines, the Philippines gained 17 points.
EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Sen. Bam Aquino credited the improvement to the collective efforts of teachers, parents, learners, government and education-sector partners.
“Ang resulta ng PISA ay magandang pangitain sa binubuo nating reporma para po sa edukasyon,” Aquino said, stressing the continuing efforts of Filipino teachers to improve learning outcomes.
The gains were also reflected in the number of students reaching at least Level 2 proficiency. In Science, the figure increased from 23% in 2022 to 32% in 2025; Reading rose from 24% to 31%; while Mathematics improved from 16% to 21%.
Filipino learners also showed relative strength in computational problem solving, scoring 434 points, although this remained below the OECD average of 500.
EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Rep. Roman Romulo said the latest results demonstrate the impact of education reforms pursued since the 18th Congress.
He called for the continued implementation of remaining EDCOM 2 recommendations that have already been legislated by Congress.
EDCOM 2 Commissioner Sen. Joel Villanueva likewise congratulated the Department of Education (DepEd), former Education Secretary Sonny Angara, the PISA 2025 Task Force, teachers and education partners for the achievement.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian also recognized the contributions of DepEd officials, school heads and teachers, while emphasizing that the results ultimately belong to Filipino learners and their families.
BIG GAINS, BIGGER CHALLENGE
Despite the improvement, EDCOM 2 warned that the country still has a long way to go.
Philippine scores remain 109 points below the OECD average in Science, 94 points in Reading and 92 points in Mathematics.
Only 21% of Filipino students reached Level 2 proficiency in Mathematics, compared with 31% in Reading and 32% in Science. Almost no Filipino learners reached the highest proficiency levels.
Major structural problems also remain. Nearly 48% of Filipino students were in schools where insufficient learning materials hindered instruction, while 58% were in schools affected by inadequate physical infrastructure.
There was, however, a sharp decline in the proportion of students in schools where teacher shortages hindered instruction—from 43% in 2022 to just 19% in 2025.
Aquino said the results should provide government with greater motivation to push through with the reforms outlined in the 10-year National Educational Plan.
EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee said the PISA results prove that improvement is possible when the right interventions are properly funded and sustained.
But with lawmakers pushing for increased DepEd funding, concerns remain over reductions in key learning-recovery programs, particularly the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program under Republic Act No. 12028, as well as funding for new teacher positions in 2027.
The message from education leaders: Celebrate the gains—but keep the reforms and investments moving.
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