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Mark Ernest Villeza - The Philippine Star
June 1, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The city of San Juan recorded the highest functional literacy rate among highly urbanized cities in the country in 2024, according to recent data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Based on PSA’s 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey, the city posted a 94.5 percent functional literacy rate, the highest among its counterparts nationwide.
City officials attributed the result to the local government’s sustained investment in public education and technology-driven learning programs.
“This recognition from the PSA affirms that our comprehensive education strategy – backed by infrastructure, technology and compassion – is working,” said San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora.
Among the city’s flagship programs is the provision of personal laptops to all public school teachers and learning devices to each student. Classrooms across the city’s public schools are now equipped with fiber optic internet and 55-inch smart televisions to support interactive learning.
To promote continuity of learning beyond classrooms, the local government also provides free home fiber internet access to the households of all enrolled public school students living in San Juan.
The city likewise distributes free school and physical education uniforms, as well as rubber shoes, to all public school students.
According to city officials, these programs are designed to eliminate financial barriers and ensure that children can focus on their studies regardless of socio-economic background.
San Juan has also strengthened its Alternative Learning System for out-of-school youth and adults, providing them with access to basic education through non-formal modalities.
In support of future-ready skills, the city has incorporated basic computer science and coding into the curriculum for public school students.
Teachers are also given specialized training to support learners with special needs, reinforcing the city’s commitment to inclusive education.
“Our goal is to make quality education accessible to every San Juaneño, regardless of their circumstances,” Zamora added.
San Juan’s performance in the PSA rankings comes amid growing calls for local government units to prioritize investments in digital infrastructure and learner-centered education.
The PSA defines functional literacy as the ability of a person to read, write, compute and comprehend. The survey is conducted every five years to measure the education and media exposure levels of Filipinos aged 10 to 64 years.
With its high literacy score, the education model of San Juan is now being eyed as a benchmark for other urban centers aiming to address learning gaps.
