Addressing the Philippines’ Education Crisis: The Need for Early Learning and Social Interaction

According to a 2019 SEA-PLM report, one out of every ten Filipino Grade 5 pupils cannot read, and two out of every ten lack basic math skills, showing deficiencies in elementary education. The Philippines performed worse in reading and math than most Southeast Asian countries, outperforming only Laos. Early childhood education is vital, yet only 19% of children aged three to four attend, according to 2020 data. Experts advise a twin approach: boosting parental awareness of the value of early education while also providing government funding for accessible educational services. Play-based learning is viewed as an important method for young children.

Editor’s Note: The alarming findings of the SEA-PLM research illustrate the Philippines’ urgent educational crisis. Extended lockdowns and school closures undoubtedly aggravated the problem, depriving children of social connections critical to their cognitive and emotional development.

Experts recommend play-based education as a solution, understanding that play-based learning develops creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration—all of which are important skills to develop in social environments. Keeping children at home disrupts not only their academic progress but also social growth, a loss we will feel for years. Interventions are needed to prevent this decline from worsening, and ensuring that lockdowns never again hinder education is a vital step toward safeguarding the future of our youth. [See also: Education secretary: Children need human interaction, Statement on the Education Situation of Children and Adolescents]

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