In public elementary schools in San Marcelino, Zambales, teachers are gaining a clearer picture of how their students learn: where progress is being made, where gaps remain, and where additional support is needed. Through Ayala Foundation’s CENTEX Digital Education program, digital tools and learning data help teachers tailor lessons and respond to different learning needs — an approach built around close partnership with educators.

The gains come against an encouraging national backdrop. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 results, released in 2026, showed the Philippines achieving its strongest performance since joining the assessment. That milestone carries weight because PISA, administered by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), measures how well 15-year-olds apply Reading, Science, and Mathematics skills and stands as one of the world’s most widely used benchmarks for comparing education systems. Average scores improved by 20 points in Reading, 17 points in Science, and 16 points in Mathematics, while the share of learners reaching baseline proficiency increased across all three subjects. These gains reflect the combined efforts of educators, government agencies, communities, and education partners to strengthen learning outcomes.

Sustaining that momentum will require continued investment in foundational learning, teacher development, and approaches that help more students succeed. Better learning outcomes improve employment prospects, productivity, and competitiveness while expanding opportunities and pathways out of poverty. For businesses, they help build the skilled, adaptable workforce needed for long-term growth and innovation.

Education is a key pillar of Alagang Ayala precisely because it strengthens the human capital that drives inclusive growth and national competitiveness. Just as physical infrastructure enables people and goods to move, education equips people to make the most of the opportunities it creates. By bringing together Ayala Foundation’s work in foundational learning and iPeople’s network of schools, the Ayala Group supports learners from their earliest years through higher education and career preparation.

“Education is one of the most powerful ways we can expand opportunity and change lives. When Filipinos have access to quality education, they are better equipped to build meaningful careers, support their families, and contribute to the country. Through Alagang Ayala, we are bringing together the strengths of the Ayala Group to help more Filipinos turn potential into opportunity — and opportunity into a better future,” said Ayala Corporation Chief Social Infrastructure Officer Paolo Borromeo.

Strengthening in early education

Ayala Foundation works with public schools and partners to strengthen foundational skills and improve learning outcomes. Its CENTEX Digital Education pilot in San Marcelino reached 1,558 learners in Grades 4 to 6, along with 27 teachers, across nine schools. The program’s High Touch, High Tech approach — combining teacher training and coaching with adaptive learning tools that use learner data to tailor instruction to individual needs — helped raise average mathematics scores from 27% to 56% after 12 weeks, equivalent to seven months of learning, according to a third-party evaluation.

The results led DepEd Zambales to expand the approach, training at least one teacher in each of the province’s 315 public elementary schools, with 79 schools now implementing the program. How the rollout extends to the remaining schools — and whether the pilot’s measured gains hold at greater scale — will be a development to watch for those tracking foundational learning in Philippine public education.

CENTEX Early Grades extends this work to learners ages three to five, focusing on literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional development. In El Nido, Palawan, and Lamitan City, Basilan, the program supports young learners through teacher training, improved learning resources, and stronger parent engagement.

“Teachers and child development workers are at the heart of the learning journey. They are the ones who see how learners are progressing, where they need support, and how to best help them move forward,” said Ayala Foundation President Tony Lambino. “Our role is to strengthen that work by giving our educators the training and tools they need to respond to help each learner build the foundations for lifelong learning.”

From higher education to employment

iPeople carries this work forward into higher education and employment. Formed through the 2019 combination of the Yuchengco and Ayala education groups, it now serves more than 80,000 students from kindergarten through doctoral programs. Its network includes Mapúa University, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao, Mapúa Malayan Digital College, National Teachers College, APEC Schools, and the Naga-based University of Nueva Caceres.

The network pairs established institutions with new approaches to learning. National Teachers College continues its tradition of developing educators, while Mapúa gives students access to globally benchmarked content, international learning opportunities, and-enabled education through its expanded partnership with Arizona State University, ranked the #1 university in the United States for innovation, sustainability, and impact in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. Mapúa has also introduced the country’s first undergraduate degree in AI engineering.

As industries evolve through digitalization and emerging technologies, preparing Filipinos for future-ready careers has become increasingly important. Through industry partnerships, global collaborations, and innovations in teaching and learning, iPeople helps equip students with the technical, analytical, and leadership skills needed in a rapidly changing economy.

“Quality education must prepare learners not only to graduate, but to succeed in a rapidly changing world. We are combining strong local institutions, global partnerships and industry-relevant learning to help Filipino students become AI-fluent and globally competitive,” said iPeople President Fred Ayala.

Together, these efforts show how Alagang Ayala supports learners at every stage, helping build stronger foundations for individuals, communities, and the country’s future.

About Ayala Corporation

For more than 190 years, Ayala Corporation has been building businesses that enable people to thrive. Today one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, Ayala has a meaningful presence in real estate, banking, digital services and telecommunications, and renewable energy, along with a growing presence in healthcare, mobility, and logistics and investments in industrial technologies, education, and other ventures. The company manages its corporate social responsibility initiatives through Ayala Foundation. More information is available at