Camille Naredo

Teachers give orientation to parents and pupils as classes open at Fernando Ma. Guerrero Elementary School in Paco, Manila, on June 16, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Teachers give orientation to parents and pupils as classes open at Fernando Ma. Guerrero Elementary School in Paco, Manila, on June 16, 2025.
The Department of Education projects enrollment from preschool to Senior High School at approximately 27 million students.
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

CLASS OPENING

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176874416278820250616-class-opening-manila-JC5194.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Teachers give orientation to parents and pupils as classes open at Fernando Ma. Guerrero Elementary School in Paco, Manila, on June 16, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Teachers give orientation to parents and pupils as classes open at Fernando Ma. Guerrero Elementary School in Paco, Manila, on June 16, 2025. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Department of Education said it is strengthening its foundation learning as part of its ways to address plunging student proficiency. </p><p>This comes after the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) said that based on data it analyzed, proficiency rates among Filipino learners decline sharply as they advance through the education system, from 30% in Grade 3 to 0.47% in Grade 12. </p><p>Asked for comment, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro quoted Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara saying that the agency is looking at strengthening foundational learning to solidify the foundation of basic education.</p><p>&quot;Kami sa DepEd, pinapalakas natin ang foundational learning sa key stage 1 which is kinder to grade 3 para solid ang pundasyon sa basic education,” Angara said according to Castro. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/9/deped-may-review-classroom-observation-policy-further-after-teacher-s-death-1454"><strong>DepEd may review classroom observation policy further after teacher’s death </strong></a> </div><p>He further noted several measures funded under the 2026 national budget to address the negative learning outcomes, which include the full rollout of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program to ensure students are capable of reading and counting, a strengthened” feeding program of the government, and an additional budget for classrooms and books.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT DATA SHOWS</strong></div><p>In a release Sunday, EDCOM 2 said that using standardized assessment data administered by DepEd from 2023 to 2025, the Commission found that “the proportion of students considered ‘proficient’ to ‘highly proficient’ begins at a low baseline and then becomes negligible by the time they reach high school.” </p><p>It pointed out that in 2024, Early Language, Literacy, and Numeracy Assessment (ELLNA) findings show that at least 30.52% of Grade 3 learners were considered ‘proficient,’ or ‘highly proficient,’ which means that the majority of the learners (approximately 70%) “continue to struggle with foundational skills at Grade 3.”</p><p>“This includes recognizing letters and sounds, reading common words, understanding short passages, counting on their own, or doing simple numerical problem-solving,” the EDCOM2 stated. </p><p>By the time students reach Grade 6, the Commission noted that data from the 2024 National Achievement Test shows that proficiency drops by 11 percentage points to just 19.56%.</p><p>“This means that only 1 in 5 students were considered proficient (or at least proficient),” it added.</p><p>These rates decline dramatically by the time they reach high school, with only 1.36% reaching at least proficiency in Grade 10 and 0.4% at least proficient by Grade 12, according to EDCOM 2. </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/6/deped-to-file-a-dozen-cases-vs-ghost-students-scheme-angara-1620"><strong>DepEd to file a dozen cases vs ghost students scheme: Angara </strong></a> </div><p>“This means that only about 14 in every 1,000 students at Grade 10, and 4 in every 1,000 at Grade 12, can demonstrate skills such as problem solving, managing and communicating information, and analyzing and evaluating data to create or formulate ideas,” it said.</p><p>The body further noted that the “steep trajectory of underperformance is rooted in a failure to master foundational competencies during the earliest years of schooling.”</p><p>The proficiency gaps are even more severe in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) and Last Mile Schools, where only 0.13% of Grade 12 learners reached proficiency, and none were classified as highly proficient in the most recent national assessments, according to the Commission. </p><p>“These students often contend with overcrowded classrooms and a lack of specialized teachers,” it said.</p><p>While pointing the learning out gaps, the body also recognized the targeted interventions made by the education department under the Marcos administration to address the learning crisis,  including the revised K to 10 curriculum, improving textbook procurement, targeted literacy remediation programs over the summer and the full implementation of the ARAL program.</p><p>EDCOM Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee was quoted saying that the findings are not new, as the low performance was seen in students in National Achievement Tests for years and “confirmed by international assessments we have participated in at Grades 4, 5, and 10.” </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2026/1/9/marcos-wants-ai-concepts-integrated-into-basic-education-curriculum-1551"><strong>Marcos wants AI concepts integrated into basic education curriculum</strong></a></div><p>“Many years of neglect has led us to this, but we can overcome this by prioritizing, above all else, foundational skills,” he said.</p><p>“By making these data sets public, and making a stand towards improved transparency and accountability through initiatives like Project BUKAS, DepEd now enables each one of us, LGUs, parents, universities, civil society groups, to work closely with our schools, knowing exactly the unique challenges faced by our respective communities and how we can help to reverse this crisis,” Yee added.</p><p>The Commission is set to release its Final Report on January 26, 2026. </p>

<p>The Department of Education said it is strengthening its foundation learning as part of its ways to address plunging student proficiency.</p>

The Department of Education said it is strengthening its foundation learning as part of its ways to address plunging student proficiency.

DepEd strengthening foundational learning to address plunging student proficiency

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

DepEd strengthening foundational learning to address plunging student proficiency

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 18, 2026 09:52 PM PHT

Read More:

DepEd

Grade 3

Proficiency

EDCOM

Educational system

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.