The Department of Education (DepEd) has taken a leading role in advancing global initiatives and regional cooperation on foundational learning at the 2026 Education World Forum (EWF) in London. On Friday, May 22, 2026, DepEd highlighted ongoing reforms in the Philippines aimed at improving foundational learning outcomes, as announced in a statement.
Participation in High-Level Sessions
A Philippine delegation participated in two high-level sessions with global and Southeast Asian education leaders at the EWF, held from May 17 to 20. DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Fatima Lipp Panontongan emphasized the need for long-term structural reforms to support teachers and learners under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara.
“We recognized early on that educational decline cannot be solved through isolated projects or short-term campaigns,” Panontongan said. “It requires structural reforms that strengthen how schools function, how teachers are supported, and how systems deliver results.”
Commendations for Education Financing
The DepEd received distinct commendations from international counterparts for the Philippine government's substantial commitment to education financing. The agency has received about 4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for this year alone, highlighting the government’s dedication to boosting the education sector.
Key programs highlighted include the School-Based Feeding Program for all Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners nationwide starting in June, the delivery of home-bound storybooks to Kindergarten to Grade 3 learners, and the institutionalized Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program.
Regional Cooperation and ASEAN Initiatives
In line with international cooperation, the delegation shared critical milestones regarding regional frameworks that seek to uplift basic education across Southeast Asia. These include the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Foundational Learning (ADFL), a major policy deliverable spearheaded by DepEd in support of the Philippines' ASEAN chairship.
The DepEd also discussed its active involvement in the upcoming ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2026–2030, which features the ASEAN Academic Recovery and Catch-up Program (ASEAN ARC-UP). This program serves as an integrated regional mechanism within the work plan to advance collective solutions for learning recovery across member states.
“We believe learning recovery is now a shared regional responsibility that requires collective solutions,” Panontongan said. These contributions position the Philippines as a “reliable partner” in educational development in the region.
Commitment to Reform
“The education challenges confronting our generation are complex, but they are not irreversible. Reform requires political will, sustained investment, and collective action from governments, educators, communities, and international partners,” Panontongan added.
Besides Panontongan, the Philippine delegation also included DepEd Undersecretary for Learning Systems Carmela Oracion and Undersecretary for Planning, E-CAIR, and PQF Secretariat Rafaelita Aldaba.
