Philippines Improves PISA Rankings, but Momentum Must Be Sustained

Philippines climbs out of bottom 10 in 2025 PISA, ranking 72nd in reading, 74th in math, 77th in science. Scores rose 20, 16, and 17 points respectively, to 367, 371, and 373. The Department of Education called the results the country’s strongest PISA performance since joining in 2018, but warned it is only a starting point. Education Secretary Sonny Angara praised the progress and urged further gains. The Second Congressional Commission on Education said sustaining momentum will require consistent purpose, continuous implementation, and nationwide commitment. The 2025 test also marked the lowest OECD average performance in all three subjects, underscoring the challenge for the Philippines to close the gap with top performers such as Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, and the UK.