Proficiency rates of Filipino students in decline – Edcom 2

Proficiency rates among Filipino learners decline significantly as they progress through the education system, according to a study by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2). The study, commissioned in partnership with the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, analyzed data from the Department of Education spanning 2023 to 2025.

Philippine Student Proficiency Declines with Each Grade Level

Edcom 2 noted that the Department of Education conducts system-level assessments by key stage to monitor basic education and assess the effectiveness of education service delivery, as outlined in DepEd Order 55 series of 2016. Students scoring at least 75 percent are considered “Proficient” or “Highly Proficient,” while scores between 50 and 74 percent are “Nearly Proficient.” Scores below 50 percent are categorized as “Low Proficient” or “Not Proficient.”

The study found that the proportion of students considered “proficient” to “highly proficient” starts at a low baseline and diminishes to negligible levels by high school. Researchers also suggested that current proficiency cut-off scores may be too high, with more students potentially considered proficient under different standard-setting methods.

In 2024, the Early Language, Literacy, and Numeracy Assessment (Ellna) indicated that only 30.52 percent of Grade 3 learners were “proficient” or “highly proficient,” meaning a majority struggle with foundational skills like recognizing letters, reading, and basic math.

Proficiency dropped to 19.56 percent by Grade 6, based on 2024 National Achievement Test data – equivalent to one in five students being considered proficient. This figure declined drastically in high school, with only 1.36 percent reaching at least “proficient” in Grade 10, and 0.4 percent at least proficient by Grade 12.

Edcom 2 stated that this means only about 14 in every 1,000 Grade 10 students, and 4 in every 1,000 Grade 12 students, can demonstrate skills such as problem solving, information management, and data analysis.