Australia has launched a new PHP1.6 billion development program that will support education reforms in the Philippines, the Australian Embassy said in Manila on Tuesday.

The announcement was made by visiting Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who is in Manila to attend the Philippine-hosted Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings.

The initiative named Education Quality for Inclusive Prosperity (EQUIP) is a five-year program that will support education in the country by helping schools better align learning with the needs of a rapidly changing economy.

Through this project, the embassy said Canberra hopes to provide senior secondary school students in the Philippines with the skills they need to be better prepared for employment.

“Australia and the Philippines have been working in partnership on education for over 30 years. As a trusted friend, Australia is proud to work with the Philippines on education reforms,” said Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Marc Innes-Brown.

“A quality and accessible senior secondary school education system will give business and industry the skilled workforce it needs and help the Philippine economy to grow.”

The embassy said the program reflects Australia’s support for Philippine government-led human capital skills investment, which will help boost economic growth.

Through targeted initiatives, EQUIP will expand opportunities for learners to build skills, gain hands-on experience, and access nationally recognized certifications in high-demand employment sectors. (PNA)