THE Philippines scored the lowest when it comes to reading comprehension based on the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment.
According to this study conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Philippines scored 340 in reading comprehension. This is below the OECD average of 487.
The Philippines also scored low in mathematics and science with a score of 353 and 357, respectively.
The OECD said in a statement that "Pisa 2018 tested around 600,000 15-year-old students in 79 countries and economies on reading, science and mathematics. The main focus was on reading, with most students doing the test on computers."
"The share of students with only very basic reading skills highlights the challenge countries, including those in the developed world, face in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 (SDGs), particularly in relation to 'ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all'," OECD said in its statement that was published on its website.
According to K12 Reader (k12reader.com), reading comprehension "is an intentional, active, interactive process that occurs before, during and after a person reads a particular piece of writing."
"Simply put, reading comprehension is the act of understanding what you are reading... Without comprehension, reading is nothing more than tracking symbols on a page with your eyes and sounding them out," K12 Reader said.
There may be a number of factors that come into play why reading comprehension is low among Filipinos.
We cannot totally blame social media and the internet since most of the content you find in the world wide web needs a lot of reading comprehension -- whether it is reading a comment, tweet, or an article online.
Possibly, the way we consume information now like instant noodles, the reading habits of the Filipinos may have changed and could have affected how they process what they are reading.
There could also be lapses in the education system. While reading is heavily promoted in schools, there is a possibility that the practice of comprehending what one is reading is not being totally promoted. Instead, students are probably urged to memorize what is in the textbooks instead of understanding it.
Also, at home, reading may not be an activity that is actively encouraged by parents. Instead they allow their kids to play outside, watch television, or play mobile games. We are not saying that what they are doing is not allowed but maybe they can include reading in the mix of their child's activities. Reading is not only limited to textbooks but there are a lot of literary materials, digital and print, that kids may enjoy.
Reading comprehension is an essential skill that one should have. It allows us to understand what is being written. With how heated things can be on social media, reading comprehension may prevent unnecessary comments and conflicts happening. With reading comprehension, it allows the society to better understand what is happening around them.
The Department of Education has already released its statement on how it will promote reading comprehension. Our plea now is for the Filipino parents to encourage their children to read a book of their choice. This can be a digital book or the printed one. If we want to improve reading comprehension among Filipinos, then we start at home and start them young.