Around 15,000 new classrooms equipped with electricity, internet access, and modern learning tools will be built through a partnership between the government and the private sector, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced over the weekend.

The plan is part of the broader reforms under the Bagong Pilipinas vision, which the President described as a promise of reform, unity, and progress rooted in inclusive development and good governance.

“We are paying attention to another pillar of the New Philippines—it is very important. That is why we are fixing education,” Mr. Marcos said in his speech during the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas miting de avance in Mandaluyong City.

The additional classrooms aim to support quality education by addressing congestion and providing learners with access to digital resources and improved learning environments.

A recent Senate hearing on the Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) revealed that as many as 18 million Filipinos who graduated from the basic education system could be functionally illiterate.

The Philippine Statistics Authority’s revised definition of functional literacy now includes comprehension and critical thinking, not just reading and writing.

Since July 2022, the Marcos administration has built 16,655 classrooms nationwide. The construction of 15,000 more, in partnership with the private sector, marks a significant step toward addressing the educational infrastructure gap.

President Marcos also cited ongoing efforts to refine the K–12 curriculum and improve Senior High School education.

He said that teacher support is equally vital, with initiatives underway to provide clearer career paths, better benefits, and a mandatory 30-day uninterrupted summer break.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara echoed the need for system-wide reforms, particularly in teacher education.

At a recent Teacher Education Council symposium, Angara said modernizing the pre-service teacher curriculum and investing in teacher training are key to reversing learning loss and preparing classrooms for the 21st century.

The Department of Education has launched interventions such as the Early Language, Literacy, and Numeracy Program, the ARAL Program, and learning loss remediation efforts to tackle the functional literacy crisis and improve student outcomes.