House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has credited Filipino teachers for the country’s improved performance in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), describing their dedication and sacrifices as key to advancing education quality.
Dy issued the statement on Wednesday, September 9, as the country observes National Teachers’ Month.
He congratulated teachers and school leaders after the Philippines recorded its highest PISA scores so far in reading, mathematics, and science.
“Sa pinakahuling PISA assessment, naitala ng Pilipinas ang pinakamataas nating scores sa reading, mathematics, at science,” Dy said.
He also highlighted the country’s progress in reading performance over the past decade.
“The Philippines has been recognized as being the fastest-improving country in reading performance over the past decade,”
Under PISA 2025, the Philippines posted mean scores of 373 in science, 371 in mathematics, and 367 in reading. These represented gains of 17 points in science, 16 points in mathematics, and 20 points in reading from the country’s 2022 results.
Dy said the latest results should encourage the Philippines to build on its gains and maintain efforts to improve the quality of education.
“Bagama’t marami pa tayong kailangang gawin upang mas mapataas ang kalidad ng edukasyon, malinaw po na umuusad tayo. At malaking bahagi ng progreso na ito ay dahil sa inyong mga guro na araw-araw na nagtuturo, gumagabay, at nagsasakripisyo para sa ating mga kabataan,” he said.
The Speaker also recognized the challenges educators regularly face, including overcrowded classrooms, inadequate resources, extensive paperwork, and numerous responsibilities beyond teaching.
“Hindi po madali ang maging guro. Every day, you face different challenges—large classes, limited resources, mountains of paperwork, and so many responsibilities. At minsan, kahit kayo mismo ay may pinagdadaanan, you still show up and give your best for your students.”
Beyond their role in the classroom, Dy said teachers help develop students’ aspirations, character, and confidence while influencing the direction of their future.
“You teach dreams. You give hope. You inspire our young people to believe in themselves and become better Filipinos,” he said.
He noted that students eventually take on different roles in society, with their achievements often reflecting the guidance and encouragement they received from their teachers.
“Balang araw, ang inyong mag-aaral ay maaaring maging doktor, guro, magsasaka, entrepreneur, leader–or simply a good Filipino who makes a difference in the lives of others. When this happens, a part of that success will always be because of a teacher who believed in them,” continued Dy.
Dy, who represents Isabela’s 6th District, said the contribution of teachers extends beyond individual learners and plays an important role in building the nation.
“Ito po ang natatanging kapangyarihan ng isang guro. Your lessons may begin in the classroom, but their impact can last a lifetime and help build a better Philippines,” he said.
He ended his message by expressing his appreciation to educators for their continued service and their role in shaping the country’s next generation.
“Kaya sa ating mga guro, maraming, maraming salamat po. Thank you for teaching. Thank you for believing. And thank you for helping shape the future of our nation,”