The Department of Education (DepEd) on Sunday stressed the urgent need to begin literacy education at an early age following a nationwide report showing over 18 million junior high school graduates are functionally illiterate.
According to the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), these students struggle with basic reading comprehension, writing, and other foundational skills.
DepEd Assistant Secretary Jerome Buenviaje emphasized that literacy intervention should start from Kindergarten to Grade 3 to prevent students from falling behind in higher grade levels.
He noted that the literacy crisis cannot be addressed by DepEd alone, as other factors such as malnutrition also hinder learning.
Since 2023, the revised K-10 curriculum has been implemented, reducing learning competencies by 70% and placing greater focus on foundational skills like literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional development in early education.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara assured the public that DepEd remains committed to ensuring that no student is left behind in reading and comprehension.
He reaffirmed that the department will continue to prioritize functional literacy for all Filipino learners.
Meanwhile, Senator Loren Legarda criticized the FLEMMS results, saying they reveal systemic failures in the education system.
She warned that the new criteria used by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for the 2024 FLEMMS are more stringent, requiring proficiency in reading, writing, numeracy, and comprehension—resulting in a higher count of functionally illiterate students.
Legarda also warned that the literacy crisis poses not only an educational problem but a serious threat to the country’s future.
What is Functional Illiteracy?
Functional illiteracy refers to the inability of a person to effectively use reading, writing, and numeracy skills in everyday life, even if they can read or write simple sentences.
In other words, a functionally illiterate person may technically be able to read or write words, but they struggle to understand, interpret, and apply information in real-world contexts such as:
- Following written instructions (e.g., medication labels, application forms)
- Writing a coherent message or letter
- Doing basic math like calculating change or reading a bill
- Understanding news articles, contracts, or safety warnings
This is different from complete illiteracy, which is the total inability to read or write.
Why it matters:
Functional illiteracy can significantly affect employment, health, and participation in civic life. In the context of education, high functional illiteracy rates indicate that students are passing through the system without gaining essential life skills.