DepEd strengthens commitment to literacy as survey shows gains, opportunities

THE Department of Education (DepEd) reaffirmed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s commitment to improve literacy across the country as it welcomed the results of the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (Flemms), conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

IMPROVING EDUCATION QUALITY Department of Education (DepEd) commits to improving literacy through curriculum enhancement and targeted teaching strategies. It also recognizes that fostering literacy is a shared responsibility and encourages collaboration between government agencies, local communities, private institutions and families. PHOTO FROM DEPED

"Reading to children improves their language, develops their cognitive skills and allows them to appreciate learning. According to various studies, early high-quality education supports children's physical and emotional development, which they need for school readiness," President Marcos said during the ceremonial signing of the Joint Circular on the Establishment of Child Development Centers by the local government units.

Heeding the president's directive, DepEd is currently intensifying its Early Childhood Care and Development or ECCD and National Reading Programs to uplift more learners toward full functional literacy.

The latest Flemms findings highlighted that the Philippines continues to maintain a strong basic literacy rate of 93.1 percent among individuals aged 10 to 64 years old. This underscores the country's success in ensuring that the vast majority of Filipinos can read, write and compute, which are all important foundational skills.

The survey also reported a functional literacy rate of 70.8 percent, demonstrating that seven out of ten Filipinos possess high-level comprehension skills to process and apply information effectively in daily life.

"These figures affirm our ongoing efforts to strengthen foundational education while also highlighting areas where we can further enhance our learners' skills," Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

"With a strong literacy base in place, we are poised to expand our programs to ensure that every Filipino gains the ability to think critically and engage meaningfully in society," Angara added.

The survey also revealed encouraging literacy trends across different regions of the country. The Cordillera Administrative Region leads in functional literacy at 81.2 percent while Central Luzon recorded the highest basic literacy rate at 92.8 percent, underscoring the effectiveness of regional education initiatives.