Filipino learners double math scores through CENTEX Digital

National Teachers’ Month shines a light on the extraordinary dedication of Filipino teachers, who continue to adapt and innovate in an ever-changing education landscape. In San Marcelino, Zambales, quiet transformation is underway—one where teachers are blending traditional instruction with digital tools to create a learning experience that is more engaging, inclusive, and effective.

Average math scores among 4th to 6th grade students have doubled among students participating in the pilot run of CENTEX Digital Education – High Touch, High Tech (HTHT). The pilot is being implemented in nine public elementary schools as a partnership among the local government of San Marcelino, Department of Education Zambales, ACEN subsidiary Sta Cruz Solar Energy Inc., Huawei, the Philanthropy Asia Alliance, and the Education Development Center, all working in partnership and brought together by Ayala Foundation. Together, the partners provide intensive teacher upskilling, quality digital education resources, and technical and evaluation expertise.

CENTEX Digital Education pairs intensive teacher training (High Touch) with Khan Academy Philippines, a quality digital learning platform tailored to the official DepEd curriculum (High Tech). By equipping educators with both pedagogical and technological support, the program helps teachers deliver instruction that is personalized, data-driven, and inspiring for their students.

Teachers have been the first to see the change in their own classrooms. Myla Romualdo of Sta. Fe Elementary School reflects, “HTHT taught me the value of combining technology with human interaction in the classroom. I realized that while digital tools can make lessons more interactive and accessible, they are most effective when paired with the teacher’s guidance and personal connection with learners. I also learned that personalization, creativity, and critical thinking can flourish when technology is used purposefully to enhance, not replace, the role of the teacher.”

Teacher Geraldine Ramos of Laoag Integrated School, meanwhile, said it was important to emphasize balance: “HTHT taught me the importance of balancing technology and human connection to provide differentiated and meaningful learning experiences for every student.”

These observations are reinforced by a third-party evaluation done by an international education research and advocacy organization. Results showed that more than 1,600 learners across nine DepEd schools in San Marcelino improved their math performance from 27 percent to 56 percent in just 12 weeks. 

An independent evaluation by the Education Development Center, with researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Glasgow, confirmed the difference as highly statistically significant and equivalent to nearly four extra months of schooling. They also shared that the average effect size of the CENTEX Digital pilot in Zambales is around double what they usually find in similar programs run in other countries.

Teachers note that the transformation goes beyond test scores. 

“Even after many years of teaching, I realized there is always something new to learn,” veteran teacher Elvie Corpuz of Rabanes Elementary School shared. “The program gave me strategies I can use to make math and science more exciting for my students.” 

Angelica Artillera of Nagbunga Integrated School added: “I see my students smiling now when they work on math problems. That’s the biggest reward for me.”

These stories reveal the true strength of CENTEX Digital: it is not just the technology itself, but the teachers who bring it to life. Their willingness to learn, to experiment, and to put their students first is what drives success. 

For indigenous students in remote areas, the experience has been even more transformative. It marked the first time they had ever used a digital learning platform in their classrooms.

Local leaders shared this sense of transformation. 

“As a son of San Marcelino Zambales, I have seen the dreams of our children often limited not by their talent, but by the tools and opportunities around them,” said town Mayor Elvis Soria. “CENTEX Digital Education – High Touch High Tech gives them a fighting chance, bringing the world’s knowledge to their fingertips, while still keeping the heart of every lesson close to home. For me, this is more than technology, it is hope, it is equity, and it is love for the next generation.”

Ayala Foundation echoes this commitment. 

“CENTEX Digital shows what is possible when DepEd, local governments, and partners come together with a shared vision: to improve learning outcomes by giving every DepEd teacher and student the most effective, efficient, and evidence-based support. Building our human capital is an investment in the country’s future,” said Tony Lambino, President of Ayala Foundation.

At the same time, Ayala Foundation is piloting CENTEX Early Grades in Lamitan City, Basilan, and El Nido, Palawan, to strengthen literacy and numeracy skills, together with social and emotional learning for the youngest Filipino learners. The vision is to create a seamless pathway: ensuring that pre-Kindergarten administered by LGUs connects more to the Kindergarten curriculum offered in DepEd schools. The goal is to give our youngest learners a leg up in numeracy and literacy, setting them up for success on their long-term educational journeys.

For Ayala Foundation, innovation in education is not about replacing teachers, but equipping them with the tools for teaching and learning. For the teachers of San Marcelino, innovation is about giving their students the gift of possibility.

This Teachers’ Month, their stories remind us that when technology is placed in the hands of dedicated educators, learning becomes not just faster, but deeper, more personal, and full of hope.

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This article is brought to you by Ayala Corporation.