Government urged to address country’s continuing literacy problem

September 8, 2024 , 08:55 PM

By Rodolfo Dacleson II

(September 8, 2024) – Sen. Loren Legarda on Sunday called on the government to address the country’s persisting gaps in literacy and other woes hounding the education sector.

Legarda cited a study by the World Bank in 2022, which revealed that 90% of Filipino children aged 10 struggle to read and understand simple texts.

“Without literacy, there is no progress. Education breaks the cycle of poverty and inequality. We need to ensure that every Filipino has access to quality education—no excuses, no delays,” said Legarda in a media release in commemoration of International Literacy Day.

She furthered that laws regarding education must be implemented strongly for the benefit of students.

“The future of our nation depends on how well we educate our youth,” added Legarda.

Last year, the country was among the eight nations in East Asia and the Pacific with a high poverty learning rate at nearly 70% despite the return of in-person classes after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Philippines was also among the worst countries in the reading portion of the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment.

Also last year, a report by the World Literacy Foundation estimated that the country’s economy was losing P258 billion annually due to illiteracy, which could lead to lost earnings, limited employability, and lost business productivity.

Nearly 11 million children and youth are not attending school, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The PSA noted that among the primary reasons for non-attendance are completion of schooling, employment, lack of personal interest, marriage, and high education costs.

Sectoral groups have repeatedly called for “comprehensive reforms” in the education sector, citing the ongoing “learning crisis” in the Philippines. Filipino students continue to score low in international assessments.

During his State of the Nation Address last July, Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr. challenged Department of Education secretary Sonny Angara to ensure “learning recovery” without any disruptions.

(PM)

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