World Bank okays $600M loan for DepEd K-10 learning recovery program

The World Bank has approved a $600-million financing program for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Project for Learning Upgrade Support and Decentralization (PLUS-D), which aims to strengthen foundational literacy in public primary and lower secondary schools in the Philippines.

According to the World Bank, its executive directors approved the funding for the PLUS-D project on April 3, 2026. The program is designed to provide nationwide support to help about 21 million K-10 learners catch up and improve learning outcomes.

“For the Philippines, sustaining growth and creating more jobs will depend on strong human capital — a workforce with solid foundational skills in literacy and numeracy,” said World Bank Division Director for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei Zafer Mustafao?lu.

“This effort is about giving every Filipino child a fair start, ensuring they can build the skills that underpin lifelong learning and future success in the labor market,” he added.

The PLUS-D program aligns with DepEd’s learning recovery and acceleration agenda. It seeks to strengthen teaching and school leadership through evidence-based training and coaching, expand access to inclusive teaching and learning materials, and support the department’s digitalization and decentralization efforts.

The program will also fund grants and tailored support for 10 selected DepEd regional offices and more than 11,100 schools to accelerate elementary learning and improve the quality of lower secondary education.

“PLUS-D is about combating learning poverty nationwide by equipping teachers with evidence-based support, promoting school autonomy and accountability, and helping Filipino learners become independent, confident readers,” said World Bank Senior Education Specialist and Project Leader Janssen Edelweiss Teixeira.

“We have seen this work in countries around the world, and the Philippines will be no exception. Help is on the way,” he added.