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 of BEST program will benefit ore than 8 million boy and girls enrolled in nearly 19,000 schools and help the Philippine 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 skilled and competitive workforce, capable of boosting labour productivity and furthering economic growth. BEST will prepare more young Filipinos to further study or work after completion of school.
Australia will work with the Philippines Government to improve the quality of education through better trained teachers and an improved school curriculum. the
We are helping to address overcrowding in schools by building more than 1,000 classrooms cross the Philippines including in areas affected by the 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 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.