LET'S make it clear. Let us understand more, as comprehension becomes an issue in determining who is functionally literate.
Recently, news reports have highlighted the declining literacy rates among Filipinos, a trend that could have serious implications for our nation. This situation raises the question of whether we have failed to support our fellow Filipinos or if they face inherent challenges.
Before, we regarded someone as literate if he or she could write, read, and compute. These are the foundational skills anyway.
Individuals aged 5 and above were classified as basic literate if they could read and write. Individuals aged 10 to 64 are functionally literate if they can read, write, compute, and comprehend, or at least a high school graduate in the old basic education curriculum, or a junior high school completer in the K to 12 curriculum.
Recently, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released the 2024 results of the Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), which collects data on literacy rates nationwide.
The results show that the Philippines maintains a strong basic literacy rate of 93.1% among individuals aged 10 to 64. However, the 2024 data also adjusts the criteria for literacy to include higher-level comprehension skills.
Consequently, while the basic literacy rate was initially recorded to be 95.1% and the functional literacy rate 93.1%, the revised measurements indicate a drop to 90.0% and 70.8%, respectively.
According to DepEd Undersecretary Ronald Mendoza, a former dean at the Ateneo School of Government, around seven out of ten Filipinos possess the high-level comprehension skills needed to process and apply information effectively in their daily lives.
However, recent headlines have misleadingly stated that 18.9 million high school graduates in 2024 are unable to comprehend based on the FLEMMS data. This interpretation misrepresents the actual figures.
As presented during a Senate Hearing by the PSA on April 30, 2025, the report indicates that 18.9 million Filipinos aged 10 to 64 are classified as functionally illiterate. This classification means they can read, write, and compute but struggle with comprehension, regardless of their educational background.
It’s important to note that individuals aged 10 to 64 include more than just high school graduates. In fact, the total number of Junior High School and Senior High School (SHS) learners for the school year 2024-2025 is about 11.6 million, making it inaccurate to attribute the entire 18.9 million figure solely to high school graduates.
Additionally, among 18-year-olds expected to graduate or who have already graduated from SHS, 80 percent — approximately 1.5 million out of 1.9 million — are functionally literate, offering a more accurate picture of literacy rates among SHS graduates.
The PSA also reported the functional literacy rates of learners aged 10 to 18. Although 10-year-olds exhibited a 53.5% literacy rate, this number increased with age, reaching nearly an 80% functional literacy rate for 18-year-olds.
While these statistics show improvement, it's important to aim for a 100% functional literacy rate. There remains a group of 20% of graduates who are not functionally literate. Although they can read, write, and compute, their comprehension skills are lacking.
Comprehension is defined as the active engagement that leads to an accurate understanding and interpretation of what one reads. Learners must not only decode words but also grasp their meanings to effectively apply this knowledge in their daily lives and make informed decisions.
The Department of Education (DepEd) is committed to implementing significant reforms to address the needs of many Filipinos who are still struggling with functional literacy.
Secretary Sonny Angara has emphasized that improving literacy must be at the core of DepEd’s educational reforms, highlighting the department's dedication to overcoming this challenge and preparing learners for future success.
Achieving these goals requires time and collective effort. After all, it takes a village to raise a child, and it takes the whole nation to ensure that every learner becomes functionally literate.
This is everybody’s business.
