The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) attended the PISA 2026 National Launching where it was reported that the Philippines improved its ranking in Science, Mathematics, and Reading. While ACT acknowledges this nominal improvement, the group clarified to DepEd Secretary Angara that any slight gain is not owed to the Marcos administration, but to the sacrifices of overworked, underpaid, and exhausted teachers, students, parents and communities who continue to carry the burden of the education system despite systemic neglect.
ACT warned the public against an obsession with international rankings, pointing out that PISA’s framework reflects a westernized, colonial perspective on education that fails to capture local realities.
“Hindi natin kaparehas ng kalagayan ang ibang bansa. Magkakaiba ang sistemang pang-edukasyon ng bansa, at ang ranking ay hindi salamin ng tunay na pag-unlad. Dapat sukatin ang pag-unlad ayon sa aktwal na kalagayan at pangangailangan ng ating bayan.” Bernardo added.
The group criticized DepEd for OECD’s findings as an achievement, particularly the observation that the Philippines managed to raise its rank despite having one of the lowest national education budget worldwide.
“Nakakahiya, hindi yan dapat ipinagyayabang. Ang tanong, bakit ba napakaliit ng budget sa edukasyon? Batay sa kasaysayan, ang budget sa edukasyon ay naglalaro lang sa 3-4% ng GDP, napakalayo sa aktwal na pangangailangan ng bansa mula sa bilang ng guro, klasrum, education support personnel, at mga kagamitan, kulang na kulang ito.” Bernardo emphasized.
ACT further highlighted that international assessment scores fail to address the socio-economic conditions of learners and educators, ignoring how poverty directly undermines learning outcomes.
“Hindi maihihiwalay ang sosyo-ekonomikong kalagayan ng mga guro at estudyante sa kanilang pagtuturo at pag-aaral. Mahirap mag-aral kung kumakalam ang sikmura at iniisip ang pambili ng kakainin. Kaya kasabay ng pagdagdag sa pondo sa edukasyon, dapat itaas ang antas ng pamumuhay sa bansa, itaas ang sweldo ng mga guro at kawani, at bigyan ng nararapat na suporta ang mga kabataan,” Bernardo asserted.
The group called for a complete overhaul of the current education system, characterizing it as colonial, commercialized, and repressive. ACT urged the government to reject foreign-dictated curriculum frameworks and instead prioritize a nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented education system grounded in national culture and social needs.
“Ang tunay na sukatan ng pag-unlad ay ang pagtugon sa aktwal na kalagayan ng mamamayan, pagpapalakas ng lokal na agrikultura at industriya, at pagpapayaman ng kulturang Pilipino. Isulong ang isang makabayan, siyentipiko, at maka-masang edukasyon!” Bernardo concluded. #
