$\"Students$ Students attend their class at the Payatas B Elementary School in Quezon City on the first day of face-to-face classes in all levels, August 22, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — More than 700,000 Filipinos aged 5 and above could not read or write in 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report.

Miseducation produced millions of functionally illiterate Filipinos — Gatchalian

"Among individuals 5 years old and over, 6.9 percent—or about 7 out of 100—cannot read and write or [are] illiterate," the PSA said in its 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) dated June 30 but released to the media this week.

Based on PSA data, there were 103.36 million Filipinos five years old and above.

$\"Courtesy$ Courtesy of PSA

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

Over 24 million Filipinos functionally illiterate: Gatchalian

"Among regions, BARMM had the highest proportion of individuals aged 5 years and over who cannot read and write at 14.4 percent," it also said.

FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

Functional literacy is an individual’s ability to read and write with a higher level of comprehension skills, and compute, according to PSA.

PSA’s 2024 FLEMMS showed that the functional literacy rate in 2024 was at 70.8 percent or about 7 out of 10 individuals aged 10 to 64, translating to around 60.17 million individuals who can read, write, compute, and comprehend out of the estimated 85 million individuals in the same age group.

The Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the highest functional literacy rate of 81.2 percent while the Zamboanga Peninsula recorded the lowest with 59.3 percent.

The rate of functional literacy is highest, with 74.1 percent, among individuals aged 20 to 24 years, while lowest for those aged 60 to 64 years at 57.8 percent.

BASIC LITERACY

While the functional literacy rate is lower, PSA said the basic literacy rate in the country is at 90 percent for Filipinos aged five and over.

This, however, is lower than 2019’s 94 percent for the same age group.

Basic literacy is one’s ability to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect, to compute or perform basic mathematical operations, said PSA.

The basic literacy rate is highest among individuals residing in the Central Luzon region at 92.8 percent, and lowest for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at 81 percent.

PSA noted that the gap between basic literacy and functional literacy is the highest among individuals aged 60 to 64 years.

INTERVENTIONS

To alleviate the issue of illiteracy, the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) on Friday said it aims to institutionalize its initiative "Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program."

The program provides financial assistance for college students majoring in education and social work who render at least 20 days of tutoring sessions for elementary students who need to enhance their reading and comprehension skills.

“Ang programa pong ito ay may executive order na mula sa Pangulo para mas mapabilis ang implementation. Pero yes, tama kayo, para for the longer term, kailangan natin ng batas. Sa Tara, Basa!, nakahanap na kami ng sponsor para sa bill,” DSWD Undersecretary Ed Punay said.

Since its pilot implementation in 2023, the DSWD program has already helped over 350,000 beneficiaries, including struggling young readers, their parents, and college student tutors.

On the part of the Department of Education, the agency has revised its senior high school curriculum and implemented it in some public schools this school year 2025-2026.

DepEd opens new school year with pilot run of revised SHS curriculum

The revised SHS curriculum reduced the core subjects from 15 to 5, to allow students to focus on their specialized subjects and be prepared for higher education and employment after graduation.

The core subjects will be taught across two semesters to promote better lesson retention and ease academic workload.

DepEd hiring 16,000 more teachers

The DepEd is also filling some 16,000 new teaching positions by the third quarter of this year to address the insufficient manpower in the education sector, especially in kindergarten, elementary, and subject-specific areas in junior and senior high school.

RELATED VIDEO

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The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

$\"Students$ Students attend their class at the Payatas B Elementary School in Quezon City on the first day of face-to-face classes in all levels, August 22, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — More than 700,000 Filipinos aged 5 and above could not read or write in 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report.

Miseducation produced millions of functionally illiterate Filipinos — Gatchalian

Based on PSA data, there were 103.36 million Filipinos five years old and above.

$\"Courtesy$ Courtesy of PSA

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

Over 24 million Filipinos functionally illiterate: Gatchalian

"Among regions, BARMM had the highest proportion of individuals aged 5 years and over who cannot read and write at 14.4 percent," it also said.

FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

Functional literacy is an individual’s ability to read and write with a higher level of comprehension skills, and compute, according to PSA.

The Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the highest functional literacy rate of 81.2 percent while the Zamboanga Peninsula recorded the lowest with 59.3 percent.

The rate of functional literacy is highest, with 74.1 percent, among individuals aged 20 to 24 years, while lowest for those aged 60 to 64 years at 57.8 percent.

BASIC LITERACY

While the functional literacy rate is lower, PSA said the basic literacy rate in the country is at 90 percent for Filipinos aged five and over.

This, however, is lower than 2019’s 94 percent for the same age group.

Basic literacy is one’s ability to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect, to compute or perform basic mathematical operations, said PSA.

The basic literacy rate is highest among individuals residing in the Central Luzon region at 92.8 percent, and lowest for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at 81 percent.

PSA noted that the gap between basic literacy and functional literacy is the highest among individuals aged 60 to 64 years.

INTERVENTIONS

To alleviate the issue of illiteracy, the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) on Friday said it aims to institutionalize its initiative "Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program."

Since its pilot implementation in 2023, the DSWD program has already helped over 350,000 beneficiaries, including struggling young readers, their parents, and college student tutors.

On the part of the Department of Education, the agency has revised its senior high school curriculum and implemented it in some public schools this school year 2025-2026.

DepEd opens new school year with pilot run of revised SHS curriculum

The revised SHS curriculum reduced the core subjects from 15 to 5, to allow students to focus on their specialized subjects and be prepared for higher education and employment after graduation.

The core subjects will be taught across two semesters to promote better lesson retention and ease academic workload.

DepEd hiring 16,000 more teachers

RELATED VIDEO

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

$\"Students$ Students attend their class at the Payatas B Elementary School in Quezon City on the first day of face-to-face classes in all levels, August 22, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — More than 700,000 Filipinos aged 5 and above could not read or write in 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report.

Miseducation produced millions of functionally illiterate Filipinos — Gatchalian

Based on PSA data, there were 103.36 million Filipinos five years old and above.

$\"Courtesy$ Courtesy of PSA

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

Over 24 million Filipinos functionally illiterate: Gatchalian

"Among regions, BARMM had the highest proportion of individuals aged 5 years and over who cannot read and write at 14.4 percent," it also said.

FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

Functional literacy is an individual’s ability to read and write with a higher level of comprehension skills, and compute, according to PSA.

The Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the highest functional literacy rate of 81.2 percent while the Zamboanga Peninsula recorded the lowest with 59.3 percent.

The rate of functional literacy is highest, with 74.1 percent, among individuals aged 20 to 24 years, while lowest for those aged 60 to 64 years at 57.8 percent.

BASIC LITERACY

While the functional literacy rate is lower, PSA said the basic literacy rate in the country is at 90 percent for Filipinos aged five and over.

This, however, is lower than 2019’s 94 percent for the same age group.

Basic literacy is one’s ability to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect, to compute or perform basic mathematical operations, said PSA.

The basic literacy rate is highest among individuals residing in the Central Luzon region at 92.8 percent, and lowest for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at 81 percent.

PSA noted that the gap between basic literacy and functional literacy is the highest among individuals aged 60 to 64 years.

INTERVENTIONS

To alleviate the issue of illiteracy, the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) on Friday said it aims to institutionalize its initiative "Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program."

Since its pilot implementation in 2023, the DSWD program has already helped over 350,000 beneficiaries, including struggling young readers, their parents, and college student tutors.

On the part of the Department of Education, the agency has revised its senior high school curriculum and implemented it in some public schools this school year 2025-2026.

DepEd opens new school year with pilot run of revised SHS curriculum

The revised SHS curriculum reduced the core subjects from 15 to 5, to allow students to focus on their specialized subjects and be prepared for higher education and employment after graduation.

The core subjects will be taught across two semesters to promote better lesson retention and ease academic workload.

DepEd hiring 16,000 more teachers

RELATED VIDEO

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

$\"Students$ Students attend their class at the Payatas B Elementary School in Quezon City on the first day of face-to-face classes in all levels, August 22, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — More than 700,000 Filipinos aged 5 and above could not read or write in 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report.

Miseducation produced millions of functionally illiterate Filipinos — Gatchalian

Based on PSA data, there were 103.36 million Filipinos five years old and above.

$\"Courtesy$ Courtesy of PSA

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

Over 24 million Filipinos functionally illiterate: Gatchalian

"Among regions, BARMM had the highest proportion of individuals aged 5 years and over who cannot read and write at 14.4 percent," it also said.

FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

Functional literacy is an individual’s ability to read and write with a higher level of comprehension skills, and compute, according to PSA.

The Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the highest functional literacy rate of 81.2 percent while the Zamboanga Peninsula recorded the lowest with 59.3 percent.

The rate of functional literacy is highest, with 74.1 percent, among individuals aged 20 to 24 years, while lowest for those aged 60 to 64 years at 57.8 percent.

BASIC LITERACY

While the functional literacy rate is lower, PSA said the basic literacy rate in the country is at 90 percent for Filipinos aged five and over.

This, however, is lower than 2019’s 94 percent for the same age group.

Basic literacy is one’s ability to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect, to compute or perform basic mathematical operations, said PSA.

The basic literacy rate is highest among individuals residing in the Central Luzon region at 92.8 percent, and lowest for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at 81 percent.

PSA noted that the gap between basic literacy and functional literacy is the highest among individuals aged 60 to 64 years.

INTERVENTIONS

To alleviate the issue of illiteracy, the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) on Friday said it aims to institutionalize its initiative "Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program."

Since its pilot implementation in 2023, the DSWD program has already helped over 350,000 beneficiaries, including struggling young readers, their parents, and college student tutors.

On the part of the Department of Education, the agency has revised its senior high school curriculum and implemented it in some public schools this school year 2025-2026.

DepEd opens new school year with pilot run of revised SHS curriculum

The revised SHS curriculum reduced the core subjects from 15 to 5, to allow students to focus on their specialized subjects and be prepared for higher education and employment after graduation.

The core subjects will be taught across two semesters to promote better lesson retention and ease academic workload.

DepEd hiring 16,000 more teachers

RELATED VIDEO

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

$\"Students$ Students attend their class at the Payatas B Elementary School in Quezon City on the first day of face-to-face classes in all levels, August 22, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — More than 700,000 Filipinos aged 5 and above could not read or write in 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report.

Miseducation produced millions of functionally illiterate Filipinos — Gatchalian

Based on PSA data, there were 103.36 million Filipinos five years old and above.

$\"Courtesy$ Courtesy of PSA

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

Over 24 million Filipinos functionally illiterate: Gatchalian

"Among regions, BARMM had the highest proportion of individuals aged 5 years and over who cannot read and write at 14.4 percent," it also said.

FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

Functional literacy is an individual’s ability to read and write with a higher level of comprehension skills, and compute, according to PSA.

The Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the highest functional literacy rate of 81.2 percent while the Zamboanga Peninsula recorded the lowest with 59.3 percent.

The rate of functional literacy is highest, with 74.1 percent, among individuals aged 20 to 24 years, while lowest for those aged 60 to 64 years at 57.8 percent.

BASIC LITERACY

While the functional literacy rate is lower, PSA said the basic literacy rate in the country is at 90 percent for Filipinos aged five and over.

This, however, is lower than 2019’s 94 percent for the same age group.

Basic literacy is one’s ability to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect, to compute or perform basic mathematical operations, said PSA.

The basic literacy rate is highest among individuals residing in the Central Luzon region at 92.8 percent, and lowest for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at 81 percent.

PSA noted that the gap between basic literacy and functional literacy is the highest among individuals aged 60 to 64 years.

INTERVENTIONS

To alleviate the issue of illiteracy, the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) on Friday said it aims to institutionalize its initiative "Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program."

Since its pilot implementation in 2023, the DSWD program has already helped over 350,000 beneficiaries, including struggling young readers, their parents, and college student tutors.

On the part of the Department of Education, the agency has revised its senior high school curriculum and implemented it in some public schools this school year 2025-2026.

DepEd opens new school year with pilot run of revised SHS curriculum

The revised SHS curriculum reduced the core subjects from 15 to 5, to allow students to focus on their specialized subjects and be prepared for higher education and employment after graduation.

The core subjects will be taught across two semesters to promote better lesson retention and ease academic workload.

DepEd hiring 16,000 more teachers

RELATED VIDEO

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

$\"Students$ Students attend their class at the Payatas B Elementary School in Quezon City on the first day of face-to-face classes in all levels, August 22, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — More than 700,000 Filipinos aged 5 and above could not read or write in 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report.

Miseducation produced millions of functionally illiterate Filipinos — Gatchalian

Based on PSA data, there were 103.36 million Filipinos five years old and above.

$\"Courtesy$ Courtesy of PSA

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

Over 24 million Filipinos functionally illiterate: Gatchalian

"Among regions, BARMM had the highest proportion of individuals aged 5 years and over who cannot read and write at 14.4 percent," it also said.

FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

Functional literacy is an individual’s ability to read and write with a higher level of comprehension skills, and compute, according to PSA.

The Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the highest functional literacy rate of 81.2 percent while the Zamboanga Peninsula recorded the lowest with 59.3 percent.

The rate of functional literacy is highest, with 74.1 percent, among individuals aged 20 to 24 years, while lowest for those aged 60 to 64 years at 57.8 percent.

BASIC LITERACY

While the functional literacy rate is lower, PSA said the basic literacy rate in the country is at 90 percent for Filipinos aged five and over.

This, however, is lower than 2019’s 94 percent for the same age group.

Basic literacy is one’s ability to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect, to compute or perform basic mathematical operations, said PSA.

The basic literacy rate is highest among individuals residing in the Central Luzon region at 92.8 percent, and lowest for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at 81 percent.

PSA noted that the gap between basic literacy and functional literacy is the highest among individuals aged 60 to 64 years.

INTERVENTIONS

To alleviate the issue of illiteracy, the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) on Friday said it aims to institutionalize its initiative "Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program."

Since its pilot implementation in 2023, the DSWD program has already helped over 350,000 beneficiaries, including struggling young readers, their parents, and college student tutors.

On the part of the Department of Education, the agency has revised its senior high school curriculum and implemented it in some public schools this school year 2025-2026.

DepEd opens new school year with pilot run of revised SHS curriculum

The revised SHS curriculum reduced the core subjects from 15 to 5, to allow students to focus on their specialized subjects and be prepared for higher education and employment after graduation.

The core subjects will be taught across two semesters to promote better lesson retention and ease academic workload.

DepEd hiring 16,000 more teachers

RELATED VIDEO

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

$\"Students$ Students attend their class at the Payatas B Elementary School in Quezon City on the first day of face-to-face classes in all levels, August 22, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — More than 700,000 Filipinos aged 5 and above could not read or write in 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report.

Miseducation produced millions of functionally illiterate Filipinos — Gatchalian

Based on PSA data, there were 103.36 million Filipinos five years old and above.

$\"Courtesy$ Courtesy of PSA

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

Over 24 million Filipinos functionally illiterate: Gatchalian

"Among regions, BARMM had the highest proportion of individuals aged 5 years and over who cannot read and write at 14.4 percent," it also said.

FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

Functional literacy is an individual’s ability to read and write with a higher level of comprehension skills, and compute, according to PSA.

The Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the highest functional literacy rate of 81.2 percent while the Zamboanga Peninsula recorded the lowest with 59.3 percent.

The rate of functional literacy is highest, with 74.1 percent, among individuals aged 20 to 24 years, while lowest for those aged 60 to 64 years at 57.8 percent.

BASIC LITERACY

While the functional literacy rate is lower, PSA said the basic literacy rate in the country is at 90 percent for Filipinos aged five and over.

This, however, is lower than 2019’s 94 percent for the same age group.

Basic literacy is one’s ability to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect, to compute or perform basic mathematical operations, said PSA.

The basic literacy rate is highest among individuals residing in the Central Luzon region at 92.8 percent, and lowest for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at 81 percent.

PSA noted that the gap between basic literacy and functional literacy is the highest among individuals aged 60 to 64 years.

INTERVENTIONS

To alleviate the issue of illiteracy, the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) on Friday said it aims to institutionalize its initiative "Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program."

Since its pilot implementation in 2023, the DSWD program has already helped over 350,000 beneficiaries, including struggling young readers, their parents, and college student tutors.

On the part of the Department of Education, the agency has revised its senior high school curriculum and implemented it in some public schools this school year 2025-2026.

DepEd opens new school year with pilot run of revised SHS curriculum

The revised SHS curriculum reduced the core subjects from 15 to 5, to allow students to focus on their specialized subjects and be prepared for higher education and employment after graduation.

The core subjects will be taught across two semesters to promote better lesson retention and ease academic workload.

DepEd hiring 16,000 more teachers

RELATED VIDEO

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

$\"Students$ Students attend their class at the Payatas B Elementary School in Quezon City on the first day of face-to-face classes in all levels, August 22, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — More than 700,000 Filipinos aged 5 and above could not read or write in 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report.

Miseducation produced millions of functionally illiterate Filipinos — Gatchalian

Based on PSA data, there were 103.36 million Filipinos five years old and above.

$\"Courtesy$ Courtesy of PSA

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

Over 24 million Filipinos functionally illiterate: Gatchalian

"Among regions, BARMM had the highest proportion of individuals aged 5 years and over who cannot read and write at 14.4 percent," it also said.

FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

Functional literacy is an individual’s ability to read and write with a higher level of comprehension skills, and compute, according to PSA.

The Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the highest functional literacy rate of 81.2 percent while the Zamboanga Peninsula recorded the lowest with 59.3 percent.

The rate of functional literacy is highest, with 74.1 percent, among individuals aged 20 to 24 years, while lowest for those aged 60 to 64 years at 57.8 percent.

BASIC LITERACY

While the functional literacy rate is lower, PSA said the basic literacy rate in the country is at 90 percent for Filipinos aged five and over.

This, however, is lower than 2019’s 94 percent for the same age group.

Basic literacy is one’s ability to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect, to compute or perform basic mathematical operations, said PSA.

The basic literacy rate is highest among individuals residing in the Central Luzon region at 92.8 percent, and lowest for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at 81 percent.

PSA noted that the gap between basic literacy and functional literacy is the highest among individuals aged 60 to 64 years.

INTERVENTIONS

To alleviate the issue of illiteracy, the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) on Friday said it aims to institutionalize its initiative "Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program."

Since its pilot implementation in 2023, the DSWD program has already helped over 350,000 beneficiaries, including struggling young readers, their parents, and college student tutors.

On the part of the Department of Education, the agency has revised its senior high school curriculum and implemented it in some public schools this school year 2025-2026.

DepEd opens new school year with pilot run of revised SHS curriculum

The revised SHS curriculum reduced the core subjects from 15 to 5, to allow students to focus on their specialized subjects and be prepared for higher education and employment after graduation.

The core subjects will be taught across two semesters to promote better lesson retention and ease academic workload.

DepEd hiring 16,000 more teachers

RELATED VIDEO

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

$\"Students$ Students attend their class at the Payatas B Elementary School in Quezon City on the first day of face-to-face classes in all levels, August 22, 2022. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — More than 700,000 Filipinos aged 5 and above could not read or write in 2024, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report.

Miseducation produced millions of functionally illiterate Filipinos — Gatchalian

Based on PSA data, there were 103.36 million Filipinos five years old and above.

$\"Courtesy$ Courtesy of PSA

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

Over 24 million Filipinos functionally illiterate: Gatchalian

"Among regions, BARMM had the highest proportion of individuals aged 5 years and over who cannot read and write at 14.4 percent," it also said.

FUNCTIONAL LITERACY

Functional literacy is an individual’s ability to read and write with a higher level of comprehension skills, and compute, according to PSA.

The Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the highest functional literacy rate of 81.2 percent while the Zamboanga Peninsula recorded the lowest with 59.3 percent.

The rate of functional literacy is highest, with 74.1 percent, among individuals aged 20 to 24 years, while lowest for those aged 60 to 64 years at 57.8 percent.

BASIC LITERACY

While the functional literacy rate is lower, PSA said the basic literacy rate in the country is at 90 percent for Filipinos aged five and over.

This, however, is lower than 2019’s 94 percent for the same age group.

Basic literacy is one’s ability to read and write a simple message in any language or dialect, to compute or perform basic mathematical operations, said PSA.

The basic literacy rate is highest among individuals residing in the Central Luzon region at 92.8 percent, and lowest for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at 81 percent.

PSA noted that the gap between basic literacy and functional literacy is the highest among individuals aged 60 to 64 years.

INTERVENTIONS

To alleviate the issue of illiteracy, the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) on Friday said it aims to institutionalize its initiative "Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program."

Since its pilot implementation in 2023, the DSWD program has already helped over 350,000 beneficiaries, including struggling young readers, their parents, and college student tutors.

On the part of the Department of Education, the agency has revised its senior high school curriculum and implemented it in some public schools this school year 2025-2026.

DepEd opens new school year with pilot run of revised SHS curriculum

The revised SHS curriculum reduced the core subjects from 15 to 5, to allow students to focus on their specialized subjects and be prepared for higher education and employment after graduation.

The core subjects will be taught across two semesters to promote better lesson retention and ease academic workload.

DepEd hiring 16,000 more teachers

RELATED VIDEO

The PSA noted that the highest proportion of individuals who cannot read and write was recorded in age group 5 to 9 years at 20.1 percent.

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How many Filipinos were functionally literate in 2024? How many were illiterate?

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How many Filipinos were functionally literate in 2024? How many were illiterate?

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 01, 2025 02:38 PM PHT

Read More:

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literacy

basic literacy

functional literacy

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