The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) Regional Secretariat convened the 1st country-level strategic workshop in the Philippines from March 3-4, 2025. This event explored how data-driven insights can inform and strengthen national education policies in the Philippines.
SEA-PLM courtesy visit to Secretary Sonny Angara at the Department of Education.
The workshop opened with a courtesy visit to the Office of the Secretary of Education, His Excellency Sonny Angara, who underscored the Philippines government’s commitment to using data to drive education reforms. The visit set the stage for discussions on how SEA-PLM data can support to generate insights, improve foundational learning, and educational policy priorities.
The Philippines is participating in the second round of assessment SEA-PLM 2024, places the country in a stronger position to report on its achievement of the UN SDG 4.1.1b indicator. With its intensified education reforms, post-2024 collaboration proves critical to ensure that the evidence translates into meaningful actions to sustain the reform and policy improvements.
SEA-PLM Project Manager Mr Alejandro Ibanez Explain the objective of SEA-PLM Country Level Workshop in the Philippines.
At the workshop, the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat highlighted a key shift in the programme’s direction—moving beyond data collection to actively integrating assessment insights into policy reform. Known as Initiative 2: Evidence-to-Policy Linkages, this approach ensures that SEA-PLM findings directly inform national education strategies, strengthening learning outcomes in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia.
The Philippines’ continued participation in SEA-PLM underscores its commitment to leveraging international assessments for policymaking. With the country set to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, it has a unique opportunity to drive regional education reform discussions centered on the use of data to advance evidence-informed policymaking.
Under Initiative 2, SEA-PLM supports DepEd’s push for data-driven decision-making, aligning with its focus on transparency and feedback loops. This includes refining curriculum development and teacher training using SEA-PLM insights, addressing learning gaps through targeted interventions, and embedding an equity focus to support marginalized students.
Key takeaways from the two-day workshop will feed into major regional education dialogues, including the 15th SEA-PLM Regional Steering Committee Meeting (April 2025) and the Foundational Learning Forum (May 2025). These events will shape how SEA-PLM data is utilized—not just in the Philippines, but across Southeast Asia—to drive meaningful education reforms forward..
Datuk Dr Habibah and also Secretary Sonny Angara at the Department of Education.
In November 2025, the official SEA-PLM 2024 Report will be launched, with participating countries presenting their policy responses based on the findings. For the Philippines, this will be a defining moment to showcase how data has driven meaningful reforms in foundational learning.
The SEA-PLM Country Workshop in the Philippines, along with similar workshops happening in other countries, marks a milestone in the journey towards evidence-based education reforms in the region, ensuring that every child regardless of education.
