Marching Toward Mastery: DepEd's Bold Preparations for Global Education Benchmarks

Wazzup Pilipinas,!?

In the echoing halls of the Department of Education, a quiet but resolute transformation is underway. With Education Secretary Sonny Angara at the helm, the Philippines is not merely aiming to participate in global education assessments—it is preparing to make a statement.

Since stepping into office in July 2024, Secretary Angara has heeded President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s mandate to elevate learning outcomes in the country. And at the forefront of this crusade is the Philippines' re-entry into the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)—an international large-scale assessment (ILSA) that serves as the world’s benchmark in evaluating 15-year-olds' competencies in reading, math, and science.

But this is not just about taking another test. This is about accountability. This is about advancement. This is about charting a new course toward educational excellence.

The Anatomy of Preparedness

The Department of Education (DepEd) has not left anything to chance. With the bitter lessons of the 2022 PISA participation still fresh—where logistical setbacks and limited readiness marred the nation’s efforts—Sec. Angara initiated a full-scale, systemic preparation that began in October 2024.

He convened his Executive Committee (Execom) and launched a meticulous internal audit, examining over 4 million 15-year-old learners who fit the PISA demographic. From school infrastructure to teacher capability, and from academic readiness to community support systems, no stone was left unturned.

By November, an audit framework was implemented to ensure that participating schools were not only capable but positioned to thrive. Come December, an OECD-authorized contractor identified 208 diverse schools across the archipelago—representing the full range of public, private, and science institutions—ensuring an accurate sampling of the nation’s educational landscape.

Empowering the Frontlines

In what could be described as a decentralized revolution, the Execom assigned regional focal persons to monitor and support each school’s readiness. The gaps—be it in internet access, laptop availability, or even exam-site infrastructure—were addressed swiftly with targeted maintenance and augmentation funds.

Equally vital was the intellectual empowerment of teachers. In collaboration with Khan Academy Philippines and Frontlearners, DepEd reinforced educators’ subject matter mastery and digital fluency, ensuring they could support learners in both content and context.

By February 2025, the final list of student-participants was released—randomly selected to ensure fair representation. These learners weren’t merely handed test dates; they were guided through digital familiarization sessions designed to sharpen computer literacy, analytical thinking, and quantitative reasoning.

A Turning Point in March

March 2025 marked the start of the computerized PISA rollout. For the first time, the Philippines approached the global examination not with apprehension but with confidence. As the exams conclude this second week of April, a new precedent has been set.

No longer reactive. No longer unprepared. This is a DepEd ready to lead.

Accountability for the Future

“There are always questions when you take on global comparisons,” Angara said in a candid Execom session. “But the only way to grow is to measure yourself—honestly, and with humility.”

Indeed, the Secretary is embracing both criticism and aspiration, seeing PISA not as a contest, but as a compass—a tool to navigate the direction of Philippine education in a world that demands more than mediocrity.

As the nation awaits the official results by September 2026, the Department understands that success is not only measured by scores but by how well it listens to what those scores reveal. For Angara, these data points will not just be figures—they will be fuel for reforms.

The Bigger Picture

This is not just about a test.

It’s about breaking the cycle of unpreparedness. It’s about recognizing where we fall short, and acting on it with courage. It’s about building an educational system where no child is left behind—not in capability, not in opportunity, and not in vision.

In the global classroom, the Philippines is no longer sitting at the back. With determination, strategy, and a fierce commitment to accountability, it is stepping forward—ready to learn, ready to lead, and ready to rise.

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