Building partnerships to support education reform in the Philippines

To improve long-term human development outcomes, the Philippines is undertaking significant education reforms, with a focus on competency-based training, and industry-driven skills development to enhance employment outcomes for students. As a trusted partner of the Philippines through over 30 years of collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) and ongoing assistance to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), the Australian Government is committed to supporting the Philippines 5-Point Reform Agenda.  

To strengthen knowledge and capacity sharing between Australia and the Philippines, a 7-day learning visit was organised for key government officials to explore Australian policies and school-level practices that support student pathways from high school to technical vocational education and training (TVET) and industry-based employment.  

The high-level visit was organised by ACER under the Education Analytics, Research, and Capability Building (EdARC) program, supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The initiative aimed to deepen bilateral collaboration in education reforms and skills development between the 2 countries. 

The delegation included Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara (DepEd), Secretary Dr Jose Francisco Benitez (TESDA), Dr Karol Mark Yee (EDCOM II), and senior officials responsible for education policy and reform. The Deputy Head of Mission and the Education Program Lead for the Australian Embassy in the Philippines helped to facilitate and accompany the delegation. 

‘Our visit to Australia was truly educational and enjoyable, not to mention well-organised and relevant,’ said Secretary Angara. 

Exploring Australia’s education and VET systems 

The visit built on a previous learning visit in May 2023, which highlighted Australia’s best practices in education governance, curriculum development, vocational education and training (VET), and workforce alignment. Insights from these exchanges have informed legislative proposals in the Philippines, aimed at enhancing teacher professionalisation, strengthening education to employment pathways and addressing job-skills mismatches. 

This visit included roundtable discussions at ACER’s Melbourne office, with representatives from ACER, the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) and the Education Services Australia (ESA).  

ACER experts provided an overview of Australia’s VET framework, emphasising industry integration in designing training models. Key areas of interest included: 

• Embedding industry and employer collaboration in VET design 
• Strengthening foundational skills, such as English literacy, numeracy and digital competency 
• Enhancing pathways from education to employment through structured work immersion programs. 

Strengthening technical and institutional partnerships

The itinerary was designed to respond to the interests of the Philippine delegation, while also providing an opportunity to showcase Australia’s comparative advantage in the education and skills sectors. The delegation visit was hosted by various state government institutions in Victoria and South Australia, including: 

• Victorian Department of Education 
• South Australian Department for Education 
• Victorian Skills Authority 
• Victorian Office of TAFE Coordination and Delivery 
• Vocational Education and Training Development Centre 
• South Australian Skills Commission 
• Skills SA 
• South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) 
• National Centre for Vocational Education and Research 

Australian and Filipino delegates engaged in discussions on a range of topics including curriculum alignment with workforce readiness skills, teacher training, decentralised models for the VET sector, quality assurance, registration and assessment frameworks, engaging parents and student safety.  

The visit also provided opportunities for Australian organisations to learn more about the Filippino education and skills sectors and strengthened existing partnerships. One such example was through an event hosted by the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne. 

Understanding how policies are enacted at the school-level 

One of the highlights of the learning visit was the opportunity to see how policies support student pathways from high school to vocational education and linkages to future employment. The delegation visited Chisholm Institute in Victoria, and TAFE SA at Tonsley and the Barossa Valley in South Australia. They also saw innovative school models supporting students’ transition to vocational education and training, with visits to St Patrick’s Technical College, Nuriootpa High School and Findon Technical College. School leaders and teaching staff discussed the curriculum, teacher professional development, student health and safety and shared copies of their school timetable.  

‘The visit to Nooriupta High School was one of the highlights for the Filipino Education and Skills Learning Visit in South Australia,’ said Anthony Bailey, Education and Skills Advisor, Development Advisory Services, DFAT.

‘The school’s model of integrated skills training and pathways to employment is something the senior delegates are keen to explore further when they return to the Philippines.’  

The visit also included meetings with industry partners who work with the school and TAFE systems, including the growing submarine sector in South Australia. This provided deeper insights into the skills sector and structure, supporting linkages with industry to identify future skills gaps. 

Australia’s role in regional education reforms 

ACER, under DFAT’s EdARC initiative, plays a crucial role in supporting education reforms across the Asia-Pacific. Through research, strategic policy support, and capacity-building initiatives, EdARC contributes to evidence-based decision-making in education and workforce development. 

Australia’s commitment to strengthening education partnerships with the Philippines aligns with the broader Australia-Philippines Development Partnership Plan and the anticipated Education Quality for Inclusive Prosperity (EQUIP) investment. These collaborative efforts ensure that education systems are responsive to labour market needs, fostering inclusive economic growth and workforce readiness. 

The learning visit has further strengthened the partnership between Australia and the Philippines, with an upcoming reciprocal visit by a South Australian delegation to the Philippines. This visit will be led by the Governor of South Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson, who hosted senior delegation members when they were in South Australia. 

As the Philippines continues its education transformation journey, its engagement with Australia provides valuable expertise and best practices to shape policies that will equip Filipino students with the skills necessary for a competitive global workforce.  

Further reading 

Read about how ACER is working with DFAT on building capabilities to improve education in the Asia-Pacific through the EdARC program.