President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara, along with Cabinet Secretaries Vince Dizon and Rex Gatchalian, and Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo, visited public schools damaged by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in General Santos City on June 10, 2026. DepEd Handout
MANILA— President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday highlighted the role of teachers in the age of artificial intelligence, while imploring them to shape students as critical thinkers.
Addressing teachers in the celebration of the National Teachers' Month, Marcos honored educators and their importance in society.
"The tools you use may continue to change. Technology, AI, will change how our children learn but it cannot replace a teacher who guides them in deciding what is true, what is important, and what is right," Marcos said. "And so, as we prepare our learners for the future, I implore you to help shape learners to become critical thinkers who question, discern, make sound decisions, and at the same time remaining compassionate and mindful of others," he added.
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Marcos touted the recent PISA results as proof of progress in the education sector, he also acknowledged the gaps that still needed to be addressed.
"Some are assigned to subjects still that are outside their specialization. And while training does not always respond to the realities they face in the classroom, we will try to remedy that," he said. "Because teachers do more than just teach lessons. For many of our children, they become second parents in school, helping create environments where learners feel safe, supported, and cared for," the President added.
In a chance interview, Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara revealed Marcos wanted the Philippines to be number 1 in the PISA results.
"Realistically, we should aim a few levels higher," Angara said.
"Kumbaga yung best students natin, malayo pa sa best students ng ibang bansa pero having said that, isa tayo sa pinakamabilis umangat," he added.
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"Sana yung momentum na yun, hindi mawala kasi tingin ko, maganda naman ang track natin kasi may ARAL program na tayo, yung PISA nangyari wala pang ARAL program," Angara said.
The Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning or the ARAL Program was established under Republic Act 12028, which is a free national learning intervention initiative by the Department of Education designed to help struggling K-10 public school students catch up in reading, mathematics, and science.
Angara said he is expecting higher PISA results by 2029.
The President is guest of honor in the National Teachers' Month Celebration in Manila, where myTEC portal was also launched.
MyTEC portal is a shared digital platform where teachers can access learning resources and development materials.