Cover Education Secretary Sonny Angara's long-standing advocacy for education is deeply personal, influenced by his mother, a former teacher, and his wife, who is also a dedicated supporter of the cause
Education Secretary Sonny Angara's long-standing advocacy for education is deeply personal, influenced by his mother, a former teacher, and his wife, who is also a dedicated supporter of the cause
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What truly stands in the way of a world-class education for every Filipino student? Education Secretary Sonny Angara talks about the problems plaguing the system and the measures in place to reshape its future
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” But what if this transformative tool, this beacon of hope, finds itself entangled in a never-ending battle? Such is the case in the Philippines where, despite the numerous efforts of the government and the private sector as well as the unwavering commitment of educators, the education system remains ensnared in challenges. There appears to be a perpetual learning crisis marked by alarming declines in student comprehension, an overloaded curriculum, and persistent resource disparities, among other issues—a concern that warrants immediate attention.
“The learning poverty in the Philippines is deeply rooted in systemic challenges, which we are still actively addressing,” says Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara, when asked about the reasons behind the Philippines’ consistent low performance in international assessments like the Program for International Student Assessment, as well as the outcome of a World Bank report that states nine out of ten Filipino children struggle to read and understand a simple text even by age ten.
The Harvard-educated public servant has been a staunch advocate for education and mental health since the early years of his career, and this long-standing advocacy for education is deeply personal. He grew up seeing his mother work as a teacher. His wife, Tootsy, also supports advocacies that focus on education like the ConnectEd: Tech for All by Her Legacy Project, which seeks to bridge the digital divide and empower learners with the tools and skills they need to thrive in a technology-driven world.
“Although recent reforms show our strong commitment to change, there remains a need to better align initiatives with the real needs of our learners, teachers and schools on the ground,” Angara says.
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Above Education secretary Sonny Angara
Education secretary Sonny Angara
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Revamped Curriculum
Among the major reforms DepEd started this school year is the transition to a strengthened Senior High School programme. “The revamped curriculum is more streamlined and flexible, focusing on critical life and work skills to better prepare students for higher education, employment or entrepreneurship,” says Angara. It is worth recalling that when K-12 was introduced in 2013, it promised that Senior High School graduates would be ready to enter the workforce or pursue higher education. Still, education fell short.
According to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), while about 53.9 per cent of Senior High School graduates pursue higher education, a significant number enter the workforce through informal employment, mainly because these graduates often still lack the necessary skills for both higher education and the job market. The study indicates a misalignment between the Senior High School curricula and higher education institutions.
To resolve this problem, the DepEd initiated the alignment and declogging of the Senior High School curriculum, streamlining academic tracks from the existing four to two: Academic and Technical-Professional. The former will now include arts, design and sports-related electives, while the latter replaces the previous Technical-Vocational-Livelihood track. “This shift makes career paths clearer and easier to follow and better aligned with Tesda, industry demands and international standards. It supports various exit routes such as employment and higher education,” the Education Secretary says.
“Although recent reforms show our strong commitment to change, there remains a need to better align initiatives with the real needs of our learners, teachers and schools on the ground”
In addition, the previous 15 core subjects are now consolidated into five. This avoids redundancies and ensures that every subject is designed to develop 21st-century skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving and digital literacy. “With flexible elective clusters and a doorway option to take 1-2 electives from other tracks, students can now customise their learning to match their interests and career goals,” says Angara. The strengthened SHS curriculum will be piloted in 889 schools this school year, 2025-2026, with 274 being private schools and 615 being public schools.
The content of the K-10 curriculum is also trimmed down by up to 70 per cent to help students focus on mastering core skills and essential knowledge. This means that early grades can now focus on literacy and numeracy, along with values formation and peace education to support holistic growth.
Angara also clarified that there is no “auto-pass” policy in the Philippine education system, however, certain practices and incentive structures may be unintentionally reinforcing such trends. “Mass promotion [of students] isn’t a written rule–but it’s become a silent norm in some places. We want to change that. Promotion should be earned through real learning, and real learning should be what our system makes possible, not just expected,” he explains.
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AI and Infrastructure
A persistent issue in the Philippine educational system is the shortage of classrooms, particularly in public schools. As of late 2024, Secretary Angara reported a national backlog of approximately 165,000 classrooms.
To help alleviate this, DepEd is focusing on underserved areas and pursuing Public-Private Partnerships to construct an additional 105,000 classrooms. “We’re also speeding things up through Early Procurement Activities, which allows us to start essential groundwork like site assessments and soil testing even before the national budget is finalised,” he says. To build school structures that are safe, sturdy, and can withstand natural calamities such as typhoons, floods, and earthquakes, DepEd is working closely with the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to technology-driven learning are key priorities for DepEd. Improving internet connectivity in schools is as crucial as constructing classrooms; yet, it remains an area that needs significant development within the education sector.
“Mass promotion [of students] isn’t a written rule–but it’s become a silent norm in some places. We want to change that. Promotion should be earned through real learning, and real learning should be what our system makes possible, not just expected”
“One of our top priorities is getting all schools online, especially in remote areas. With reliable internet, we can bring in world-class learning platforms like Khan Academy to classrooms anywhere in the country,” says Angara. In addition, there is the DepEd Computerization Program, which aims to equip teachers with digital tools to help them modernise lessons and lighten their administrative workload. “That way, they can focus more on teaching,” he says, explaining that the ultimate goal is to ensure that every investment made by the government creates a tangible and visible impact.
Angara also shares that they are figuring out how best to integrate and maximise the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, while also taking into account the risks that come with it, such as misinformation and data privacy. “That’s why we’re investing in training and practical classroom tools. In early pilots, teachers saved three to ten hours a week on things like lesson planning, giving them more time to focus on students,” he shares.
In terms of administrative work, DepEd is set to roll out seven high-impact AI prototypes by mid-2025 through the Education Centre for AI Research (E-CAIR) programme—the first-ever hub for AI research in education in the Philippines. The platform will use data-driven mapping, as part of the Adopt-A-School Program, to pinpoint schools in need of infrastructure development. Through a partnership with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation, DepEd seeks to establish the Philippines as Southeast Asia’s AI education hub.
Above Education secretary Sonny Angara
Education secretary Sonny Angara
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Teachers’ Welfare
Besides infrastructure, recruiting new teachers and retaining highly competent educators remain a struggle in the Philippines, with the primary reasons for departure being retirement, migration for better opportunities abroad, and limited career growth. Currently, the entry-level salary of teachers in the Philippines starts at PhP30,024, which is significantly lower than the six-digit offers in countries like Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and others.
While there is no news on whether the compensation of teachers will be upgraded to parity with wages abroad, DepEd has expressed that it is set to hire more teachers and provide them with better support. The hiring process is merit-based and competency-driven. To assist the teachers, 10,000 administrative staff are set to be hired as well. Doing so will avoid overcrowding of classrooms and will ease teachers’ workload.
“One of our top priorities is getting all schools online, especially in remote areas. With reliable internet, we can bring in world-class learning platforms like Khan Academy to classrooms anywhere in the country”
Holistic Approach
High drop-out rates, especially in higher education, are also a recurring concern. While annual enrollment in the Alternative Learning System averages 600,000, completion rates remain concerningly low. As the EDCOM 2 reported, only 46.2 per cent completed the programme for the school year 2023-2024. Among the key factors affecting drop-out rates, as cited by Unicef, are the lack of financial support, the necessity for learners to work and diminished interest.
To mitigate this, Angara shares efforts in place to strengthen the programme, which include improved policies, curriculum alignment and referral systems. There will also be efforts to map potential learners better and expand the number of community learning centres, particularly in underserved areas.
Angara also pledges that DepEd is actively working to implement projects focused on the mental health and well-being of students and teachers. “We’re building a nationwide framework to put care at the heart of our schools. That includes setting up school-based wellness centres, creating division-level support offices and opening new positions for mental health professionals,” he says.
“While the path to comprehensive change is long, these initiatives, coupled with increased monitoring and accountability, offer a promising outlook for empowering Filipino learners and fostering a brighter future for the nation. We’re also focused on clear goals: more kids in school, better test scores and truly job-ready graduates”
These projects and initiatives are welcome developments, but questions remain regarding monitoring and accountability. Who is responsible, and what measures are in place? Angara shares that they are investing heavily in tracking and measuring progress.
The challenges facing Philippine education are significant, yet Angara’s insights reveal a strategic and multifaceted approach to reform: “From curriculum revamps and infrastructure development to leveraging AI and prioritising teacher welfare and student well-being, the DepEd is laying the groundwork for a more resilient and equitable system. While the path to comprehensive change is long, these initiatives, coupled with increased monitoring and accountability, offer a promising outlook for empowering Filipino learners and fostering a brighter future for the nation. We’re also focused on clear goals: more kids in school, better test scores and truly job-ready graduates. We’re committed to transparency, innovation and collaboration with local governments, the private sector and communities to make education work for everyone.”
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Credits
Photography: Wesley Villarica
Whether on assignment or not, Maritess is always on the lookout for off-the-beaten-path destinations as well as the yummiest finds in the Philippines and abroad. In 2020, she plunged into the black hole of Korean la la land. Follow her escapades at @matetreyes.
