PBBM approves WB-backed $600M DepEd project to address learning loss

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has approved the Department of Education's (DepEd) Project for Learning Upgrade Support and Decentralization (PLUS-D), a significant initiative backed by the World Bank to address learning losses from the pandemic and empower local schools.

The six-year PLUS-D project, co-funded by a $600 million World Bank loan and a $60 million Philippine government counterpart, aims to benefit approximately 21.2 million K-10 learners across the country.

Resources and technical assistance will be directly channeled to regional offices and schools to speed up the recovery of early-grade learning and improve junior high school instruction.

Over 11,000 schools identified as prepared for decentralized reforms will receive specific grants.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted that this project signifies a crucial policy change, enabling schools and local education leaders to make decisions tailored to their specific circumstances.