THE DEPARTMENT of Education emphasized the central role of research in shaping responsive and sustainable education reforms.

“Ang isang DepEd na nakikinig sa datos ay may kakayahang tukuyin nang malinaw ang mga hamon, unawain ang mga ugat nito, at kumilos tungo sa pangmatagalan at epektibong mga solusyon,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in a message delivered by DepEd Region II Director Benjamin Paragas.

The statement was made during the National Basic Education School Research Congress held on February 27–28, 2026, at the University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao.

The Secretary underscored that basic education reforms are guided by research and evidence, anchored on the Department’s 5-Point Reform Agenda, and aligned with the mandate of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr..

“We are accelerating our classroom construction program with the help of our LGUs and private partners. We are prioritizing investments in school-based feeding and early childhood care and development programs. We are revitalizing our curriculum to meet the demands of tomorrow and prepare our students for the future of work. We are ensuring that our schools have sufficient learning resources and that our teachers receive the best possible support,” Angara said.

“Because, as we understand in research, we can achieve good results—but only if we act on what evidence consistently tells us.”

The Congress, organized by the Center for Basic Education Research of USLT, gathered educators, researchers, and students from across the country to present studies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.