MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday welcomed the Philippines’ strongest performance to date in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), saying the gains in reading, mathematics and science showed that sustained investments and collective efforts can improve the country’s education system.

In a video message posted on his Facebook page following the release of the PISA 2025 results, Marcos described the development as “napakagandang balita” and said the results indicated that the country’s education system was moving in a positive direction.

“Ang Pilipinas ay isa sa pinakamagandang performance sa pagpapaganda ng educational sector. Ito’y kinuha sa mga score ng ating mga mag-aaral. Tumaas tayo sa lahat ng bagay, sa reading, sa mathematics, sa science,” President Marcos said.

The 2025 assessment released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed substantial improvements in the Philippines’ scores across all three core areas compared with the 2022 results.

The country posted a mean score of 373 in science, 371 in mathematics and 367 in reading, representing gains of 17, 16 and 20 points, respectively, from 2022.

The latest scores are also the Philippines’ highest since it first participated in PISA in 2018.

The improvement in reading was particularly significant, with the Department of Education reporting a 20-point increase from 2022. The Philippines was also among the fastest-improving education systems in reading literacy and recorded one of the largest gains in mathematics.

“Nakasulat dito, the Philippines is among the few education systems improving across all domains. The Philippines is considered one of the fastest improving educational systems globally with the strongest long-term improvement in reading amongst participating systems,” President Marcos said.

DepEd also reported that the proportion of Filipino 15-year-olds reaching at least Level 2 baseline proficiency increased to 31 percent in reading, 24 percent in mathematics and 32 percent in science.

These figures were higher than the 2022 levels of 24 percent in reading, 16 percent in mathematics and 23 percent in science.

Marcos said the results should encourage the government and the education sector to further strengthen ongoing reforms rather than slow down their efforts.

“Iilan lang daw ang bansa na natamo ang ganoong klaseng improvement na kagaya ng nakikita natin sa ating educational system,” President Marcos said.

The President credited Filipino learners and teachers for the improvements, while emphasizing the role of parents, communities and government in supporting education.

“Muli ay napapatunayan kung gaano kagagaling ang ating mga mag-aaral na sila ay masipag at seryoso sa kanilang pag-aaral at kung gaano kagaling magturo ang ating mga guro basta’t sila ay suportado ng tama ng hindi lamang ng gobyerno, kung hindi pati ang buong komunidad, ang mga magulang at lahat ng ating mga kababayan na tumutulong para pagandahin ang mga kinabukasan ng ating mga anak,” President Marcos said.

For Marcos, the PISA results are not an endpoint but an indication that education reforms are beginning to produce measurable gains.

“Nagsimula pa lang tayong magtayo ng classroom,” President Marcos said, citing the administration’s efforts to provide internet connectivity, computers, school supplies and printed learning materials.

He said the positive results should reinforce the administration’s efforts to provide Filipino learners with better opportunities and a more hopeful future.

“At nakikita naman natin, kapag pinagkaisahan natin ang pagpapaganda ng buhay ng ating mga mag-aaral, ay talagang ramdam na ramdam ang napakagandang resulta,” President Marcos said.

“Kaya’t huwag po natin titigilan…sa ating administrasyon, hindi po natin titigilan niyang mas lalo pa natin didiinan ng ating seryoso na pagtutugon,” President Marcos added.