World Bank backs Phl learning reform

The Philippines has secured a $600-million financing package from the World Bank to strengthen foundational skills in reading, literacy, and mathematics among public school students.

The program, known as the Project for Learning Upgrade Support and Decentralization (PLUS-D), will be implemented by the Department of Education and is expected to benefit around 21 million learners from kindergarten to Grade 10, including those under the Alternative Learning System.

It will also extend support to about 777,000 teachers, 59,000 school leaders, and 300 DepEd personnel through training and capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving instructional quality and school management.

World Bank Division Director for the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei Zafer Mustafaoğlu said the initiative is anchored on strengthening human capital to support long-term economic growth.

“This effort is about giving every Filipino child a fair start, ensuring they can build the skills that underpin lifelong learning and future success in the labor market,” he said.

The World Bank said the project will support nationwide learning recovery efforts, improve classroom assessment systems, and expand access to inclusive teaching materials, including resources for learners with disabilities and Indigenous Peoples communities.

It will also reinforce teacher training, school leadership development, and DepEd’s broader digitalization and decentralization reforms, in line with its ongoing education modernization agenda.

The funding will be used to support grants and targeted interventions across 10 regional DepEd offices and more than 11,000 schools, focusing on strengthening elementary and junior high school education systems.

World Bank Senior Education Specialist and Project Leader Janssen Edelweiss Teixeira said the program aims to address learning poverty through evidence-based reforms and stronger school autonomy.

“PLUS-D is about combating learning poverty nationwide by equipping teachers with evidence-based support, promoting school autonomy and accountability, and helping Filipino learners become independent, confident readers. We have seen this work in countries around the world, and the Philippines will be no exception. Help is on the way,” he said.