Literacy should be a national priority

Alarm bells should be ringing across the nation. The Philippines is facing a crippling literacy crisis that threatens not just our global competitiveness, but the very foundations of our democracy, economy and growth prospects.

According to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), the number of functionally illiterate Filipinos has surged to 24.8 million in 2024, nearly doubling from 14.5 million in 1993.

Functional illiteracy, as defined in the Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), refers to the lack of comprehension to use basic reading and writing skills in everyday life. This means millions of Filipinos are unable to understand information well enough to navigate everyday tasks, access gainful employment, engage in civic and political discourse, and make informed decisions for themselves and their families.

The implications of this problem are profound and far-reaching.

One, this type of workforce that cannot comprehend effectively cannot compete, and businesses will struggle to find skilled labor. When this happens, productivity suffers and the ability to create innovative solutions will not materialize.

A functionally illiterate population is also more vulnerable to misinformation, which means they are easy targets for scams and propaganda. Citizens who cannot understand how the law works, what their vote means or how to spot fake news cannot make informed decisions.

In times of crisis - whether natural disasters, pandemic, or even political unrest - coordinated response and recovery is hampered if a significant portion of our population do not know how to prepare and act accordingly.

This situation perpetuates poverty, as the inability to comprehend limits access to economic opportunities. This crisis also hurts our country’s growth prospects since millions of Filipinos cannot reach their full potential to be productive contributors to the economy.

Boosting functional literacy should be treated as a cornerstone of development, one that requires a whole-of-nation approach - from the national government, to local government units (LGUs), and the private sector, media and civil society.

After all, functional literacy is not just an education issue, it is an economic and social concern as well. The government must treat this crisis as a national emergency. We must go beyond books and schools and address the matters that are stopping families from sending their children to school, which includes poverty, malnutrition and inequality.

Policy action is a step in the right direction, and one of the ways to promote functional literacy is by empowering poor families to send their children to school through institutionalized scholarship programs. House Bill 2125 or the “Scholar ng Bayan Act,” introduced by Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes, aims to deliver targeted educational assistance to poor but deserving students. It requires LGUs to earmark 30 percent of their Special Education Fund - derived from real property tax collections - for learners from households living below the poverty threshold.

While not a silver bullet, this is a critical step toward empowering poor families to send their children to school and promoting functional literacy at the grassroots level.

Likewise, the Department of Education (DepEd) must take urgent and sustained action to address functional illiteracy, starting with early childhood education that focuses on foundational skills and teacher training to improve instruction quality. There should also be an institutionalized learning outcome tracking to ensure students are not just enrolled but are actually learning. There should be a shift in focus from quantity to quality. Enrollment numbers mean little if students leave school without the ability to read, write, and think critically.

The private sector, media and community organizations all have a role to play too. Companies can support literacy programs as part of their corporate social responsibility, while community organizations can help LGUs champion literacy campaigns.

The media, for its part, must continue to raise awareness about the gravity of this problem so that it remains a priority national issue.

We cannot afford to treat literacy as a soft issue. It is a key indicator of our national progress. The data show exactly how critical this is and how important that we act now or risk condemning millions to a future of exclusion and vulnerability.

Literacy is not just about reading and writing, it is about access, opportunity and dignity. It is about ensuring that every Filipino has the knowledge, tools and ability to thrive in a fast-changing world.

Literacy is a national mission. Investing in it means we invest in the future of the nation.