Eight million Filipino students to benefit from Australia's education assistance

Media release

22 February 2014

Australia will support the Philippine Government's most ambitious education reforms in 20 years by establishing a six year $150 million education program in the country.

The Basic Education Sector Transformation (BEST) program will benefit more than eight million boys and girls enrolled in nearly 19,000 schools and help the Philippines to expand schooling from 10 to 13 years in line with international standards.

The introduction of three additional years of schooling to the Philippine education system will have a transformative effect on children's lives.

Investing in education is essential to having a skilled and competitive workforce, capable of boosting labour productivity and furthering economic growth. BEST will prepare more young Filipinos for further study or work after completion of school.

Australia will work with the Philippine Government to improve the quality of education through better trained teachers and an improved school curriculum.

We are helping to address overcrowding in schools by building more than 1,000 classrooms across the Philippines including in areas affected by recent Super Typhoon Haiyan and the 7.2 magnitude Bohol earthquake in October.

The BEST program will also involve the construction of 40 science and computer laboratories, two Indigenous People's Learning Centres and will train principals in 19,000 schools.

Australia and the Philippines are good friends and neighbours. The BEST program is a continuation of our commitment to work with the Philippines to promote prosperity, reduce poverty and enhance stability.