12 answers, 5 from the Philippines's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
The 2027 proposed budget allocates ₱1.326 trillion to the education sector, about 4.0% of GDP, according to the Department of Budget and Management Technical Notes on the 2027 Proposed National Budget. The Department of Education gets ₱976.0 billion, down 3.9% from ₱1.015 trillion in 2026, and state universities and colleges ₱141.1 billion.
The total education sector budget is 1.4% lower than in 2026. The DBM notes that 4.0% of GDP is at the lower end of UNESCO's benchmark of 4% to 6%. The World Bank puts government education spending at 3.97% of GDP in 2025.
Only 0.4% of Grade 12 learners reached the proficient level in the National Achievement Test, and almost half of Grade 3 learners were not reading at grade level by the end of school year 2024-2025, according to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), cited in the Department of Budget and Management 2027 budget technical notes.
EDCOM II's report, "Turning Point: A Decade of Necessary Reforms", identified weaknesses in foundational learning, nutrition, classroom availability, learning resources and education governance. The National Achievement Test is run by the Department of Education. The 2027 budget funds classrooms, learning recovery, nutrition and teacher development in response.
98.5% of Filipinos aged 15 and over could read and write in 2020, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators, which use UNESCO data.
Basic literacy, the ability to read and write a simple message, is close to universal in the Philippines. It says little about reading comprehension: the EDCOM II findings cited in the Department of Budget and Management 2027 budget technical notes show that almost half of Grade 3 learners were not reading at grade level.
1,616,165 children of primary school age in the Philippines were out of school in 2024, up from 1,470,794 in 2023, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators, which use UNESCO Institute for Statistics data.
The figure counts children of official primary age not enrolled in primary or secondary school. It is an estimate built from enrolment records and population projections, so it can move when either is revised. The Department of Education publishes enrolment by grade and region.
The 2027 proposed budget gives state universities and colleges ₱141.1 billion, up 2.3%, and the Commission on Higher Education ₱35.5 billion, down 26.7% from ₱48.4 billion in 2026, according to the Department of Budget and Management Technical Notes on the 2027 Proposed National Budget. Tertiary education overall is allocated ₱134.7 billion in the functional classification.
CHED oversees higher education institutions and runs scholarship programmes. TESDA, which runs technical and vocational training, is given ₱21.2 billion, down 19.4%. Congress can change these amounts.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts net primary school enrolment in the Philippines at 93.8% in 2017. The peak was 95.4% in 2014 and the low 86.8% in 2006. East Asia & Pacific median: 94.6%; the Philippines is 11th highest of 16. Worldwide: 71st of 134.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts gross secondary school enrolment in the Philippines at 85.3% in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 77.0% (2006) to 92.3% (2022). It is 13th highest of 16 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 92.0%. Worldwide: 74th of 100.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross tertiary enrolment in the Philippines was 47.4% in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 8th highest of 15 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 47.4%. Worldwide: 49th of 90.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the adult literacy rate in the Philippines was 98.5% in 2020. That is the highest since at least 2008. East Asia & Pacific median: 96.9%; the Philippines is 4th highest of 10. World rank, highest first: 9th of 41.
In 2025, government spending on education in the Philippines was 4.0% of GDP, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2017, is 29. The peak was 35 in 2005 and the low 29 in 2016. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 18, and the Philippines placed 3rd highest of 18. Of 130 countries with 2017 data, 29th highest.
91.4%: that is the primary completion rate in the Philippines for 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. The peak was 108.3% in 2018 and the low 77.2% in 2023. It is 15th highest of 20 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 98.9%. Worldwide: 69th of 104.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error