Putting Foundational Learning at the Core of Philippine Educational Systems Reforms 

Series Summary: The Philippines’ education system is at a crossroads. Despite decades of reform, millions of children still cannot read, write, or perform basic mathematics – symptoms of systemic failures that threaten the nation’s future. The broader four-study series, supported by The Asia Foundation, EDCOM II, and the Australian Government, examines how governance, teacher development, and early childhood systems can work together to strengthen the foundations of learning. Together, the studies outline a roadmap for transforming Philippine education, with particular attention to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where cultural and post-conflict realities require context-sensitive approaches.  

The study argues that the Philippines must center its education reforms on the early years, recognizing that foundational skills – shaped from ages 0 to 8 through health, nutrition, early childhood care, literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional support – determine long-term learning outcomes. It proposes five essential actions: guarantee universal early learning, measure learning reliably, align systems around learning goals, strengthen teacher support, and adapt policies based on evidence. 

Download the reports in the series:   

• Putting Foundational Learning at the Core of Philippine Educational Systems Reforms 
• Realizing Shared Governance: Decentralization of Philippine Basic Education 
• Covering the Last Mile: ECCD Governance and Delivery in BARMM 
• Contextualizing Teacher Quality in BARMM