PH Climbs Out of Bottom 10, Posts Highest Ever Scores in PISA 2025

Filipino students have registered unprecedented progress in the latest Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025, showing significant double-digit improvements across mathematics, science, and reading. This breakthrough performance shatters the country’s historic flatline trend, marking its highest score profile since joining the global evaluation in 2018.

Breaking the Learning Flatline

According to official metrics presented by Education Secretary Sonny Angara at the Caloocan City Science High School, the Philippines recorded a mean score of 371 in mathematics (up 16 points from 2022), 373 in science (up 17 points), and 367 in reading (up 20 points). Notably, the OECD identified the Philippines as the fastest-improving nation in reading skills worldwide over its 10-year trend timeline.

Celebrating the milestone on social media, Secretary Angara expressed immense gratitude to the academic community. "Proud ako sa ating mga bata, guro, school leaders, magulang, LGUs, at lahat ng katuwang ng DepEd," Angara stated. He emphasized that the gains are a testament to multi-sectoral collaboration and strategic, computer-literacy preparations aimed at bridging the digital divide.

International Recognition and Remaining Gaps

The nation's sharp educational turnaround similarly captured international praise. Andreas Schleicher, the OECD Director for Education and Skills, offered his warmest congratulations to local teachers and administrators, noting that the country's transformation is a milestone that "deserves to be noticed far beyond your borders."

However, education officials maintain that these results are a baseline rather than a victory lap. While the proportion of students reaching baseline proficiency (Level 2) saw a robust increase, a significant learning gap remains. National scores still sit comfortably below the global OECD averages of 482 in science, 463 in mathematics, and 461 in reading.

Nevertheless, education advocates and policymakers welcome the data as tangible evidence that Filipino learners are fully capable of making structural progress under sustained reform.

Courtesy: DepEd