DepEd: 3.7M learners expected to complete basic education in SY 2025-2026

Around 3.7 million learners are expected to graduate from basic education this school year, according to estimates from the Department of Education (DepEd), marking one of the largest batches to exit the K to 12 system in recent years.

Based on data shared by DepEd with GMA News Online, approximately 1.9 million Grade 6 pupils and 1.8 million Grade 12 students from both public and private schools are projected to complete their respective levels in School Year 2025–2026. 

Of these, about 1.8 million Grade 6 and 1.1 million Grade 12 graduates come from public schools.

The figures highlight the sheer volume of learners transitioning into the next stages of education or the workforce—but also raise critical questions about whether the system is producing graduates who are truly prepared.

While graduation numbers remain high, education experts have repeatedly warned that completion does not necessarily translate to learning.

Recent findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) point to a deepening learning crisis in the country, particularly in foundational skills. Data show that only about 15% of early-grade learners are reading at grade level, meaning around 85% are considered struggling readers. 

The problem persists even in urban areas. In Metro Manila, for instance, a significant proportion of students continue to struggle with reading, with some cities recording rates of over 40% among early-grade learners. 

Pandemic scars and system strain

The current batch of graduates is among those most affected by pandemic disruptions, when the Philippines experienced one of the longest school closures globally. 

Although full face-to-face classes have since resumed, the effects of learning loss, uneven access to resources, and compressed instruction time continue to linger.

Even in highly urbanized areas, schools face structural challenges such as overcrowded classrooms, shifting schedules, and high student mobility, all of which limit effective teaching and individualized learning support. 

Transition pressure

With nearly 1.8 million senior high school graduates, pressure is also mounting on higher education institutions, training systems, and the labor market to absorb the incoming cohort.

Education reform advocates have long emphasized the need for stronger alignment between basic education outputs and workforce demands, warning that without it, large graduating classes may not translate into improved employment outcomes.

EDCOM II, meanwhile, in its long-term roadmap, has acknowledged a “three-decade decline in quality” in Philippine education and called for sweeping reforms to improve proficiency levels, particularly by the end of senior high school. 

Earlier, the Economy and Development (ED) Council, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., approved the DepEd's proposed three-term school calendar starting in school year 2026–2027.

However, this was opposed by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), calling it a “rushed” reform that purportedly fails to address deeper problems in the education sector. —LDF, GMA Integrated News