Makati City, Philippines – After years of virtual gatherings, the Center for Educational Measurement, Inc. (CEM) is bringing its community back together for its 47th Anniversary Conference on 19 September 2025, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at the AIM Conference Center, Makati City.

With the theme “One Vision, Shared Measures: Empowering Progress through Assessment,” this year’s conference marks CEM’s first in-person celebration since the pandemic. It will serve as a reunion for educators, school leaders, and policymakers from CEM’s network, offering a space to reflect on the role of assessment in shaping the future of Philippine education.

For CEM, the event is more than a return to tradition—it is a renewed commitment to advancing educational assessment as a powerful tool for equity and quality learning. Beyond measuring achievement, the discussions will explore how assessment can bridge learning gaps, inform instruction, and spark systemic change, underscoring CEM’s belief that shared goals and coherent measures are vital to achieving meaningful outcomes for learners.

The program will open with a Welcome Message from Dr. Luis M. Sorolla, Jr.  Chair of the CEM Board of Trustees, followed by the Opening Remarks of Dr. Grace H. Aguiling-Dalisay, CEM President and CEO.

The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Allan B.I. Bernardo, Distinguished University Professor at De La Salle University Manila, who will speak on assessment as a catalyst for equity and excellence in Philippine education.

Two plenary sessions will highlight the day’s discussions:

The morning session, “Shared Measures, Shared Goals: Advancing Equity and Building Data-Informed Schools,” will feature Dr. Edizon A. Fermin, Vice President for Academic Affairs at National Teachers College, and Asec. Janir Ty Datukan of the Department of Education. The dialogue will focus on how using common measures can help schools close learning gaps and personalize instruction.

The afternoon session, “Rethinking Assessment for the AI Era: Aligning Measures with 21st-Century Skills and Ethical Innovation,” will bring together Dr. Jennie V. Jocson, Executive Director V of the Teacher Education Council Secretariat, and Atty. Jalieca L. Gadong-Balite, e-Learning expert and consultant from XEPTO Education. Their conversation will examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping education and how assessments must adapt to emphasize skills such as critical thinking and digital literacy while addressing pressing issues like data privacy and algorithmic bias.

Guiding the discussions throughout the day will be Teacher Victor A. Villanueva, who will serve as conference moderator. The program will conclude with a Closing Remarks from Ms. Rosario Faylona, Overall Committee Chair of the 47th Anniversary Conference.

As CEM celebrates its 47th year, this gathering stands as a reminder of its enduring mission: to champion assessment not just as a measure of learning, but as a driver of progress, equity, and innovation in Philippine education.