MANILA -- A global investment banker said opening up the education sector to foreign investors won't necessarily solve the learning crisis in the Philippines.

Speaking on ANC's Market Edge, Stephen Cu-Unjieng said schools or universities who might enter the Philippines won't likely get into mass education.

"They’re not going to get into mass education. In every country, that is the government’s job—to provide education for the general population. And you don’t need foreign capital or foreign institutions to do that," he said.

"If you really wanted their expertise, then hire them as consultants. I mean, it’s really up to the government for the public school system to improve their game."

"It is not going to affect and improve the major challenges in Philippine education, except maybe tangentially. It might force some of the leading local schools to improve their game," he said.

DepEd: PH ranking in PISA shows 'resiliency' of educational system

Data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) showed that the scores garnered by the Philippines in math, reading and science were all below the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) global averages.

Phinma Education President Chito Salazar earlier said tinkering with the 1987 Constitution won't move the needle on the quality of education in the Philippines.

Expert: Tinkering with charter won't move needle on education quality; basic education is key issue

--ANC, 4 March 2023