PSA: 5.58 junior high school graduates lack comprehension skills
There are 5.58 million high school graduates considered 'functionally illiterate" or having problems in comprehension and understanding, the Philippine Statistics Authority has clarified.
PSA assistant national statistician Adrian Cerezo made the clarification in a House committee briefing in the wake of reports that the number of junior high school graduates tagged as 'functional illiterate' or those who have problems in comprehension and understanding, stood at 18.9 million.
'We'd like to point out that the difference of 18.965 million between the old and new definition…does not represent only those who graduated from senior high and high school graduates in the old curriculum," PSA assistant national statistician Adrian Cerezo said.
"[It] stands for all 10 to 64 years old who have functional literacy deficiencies regardless of educational attainment,' he added.
'The estimated number of high school graduates, including junior high completers 10 to 64 years old, who are basic literate but are not functionally literate because of lack of comprehension skills stands at 5.58 million in 2024,' Cerezo said.
House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chairman Roman Romulo said that the 5.58 million individuals who still couldn't understand what they read, even with a high school diploma, should be a cause of concern.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has pointed out that the 18.9 million Filipinos considered as 'functionally illiterate' based on the results of the 2024 functional literacy, education, and mass media survey (FLEMMS) came from a much broader age group, and were not only high school graduates.
These people who are functionally illiterate can read, write, and compute, but struggle with comprehension, regardless of their educational attainment.
Cerezo said that of the 18.9 million, over 13 million people were not able to finish junior or senior high school at the very least.
'It doesn't make the picture any better because ibig sabihin, 'yung 13 million tinatanggal niyo lang, gusto niyo lang sabihin na hindi kasi nag-graduate ng high school 'yan—pero pwedeng dumaan hanggang Grade 9, Grade 8… So, it's not reflective of a quality education being given by DepEd,' Romulo said.
(It doesn't make the picture any better because that means that with the 13 million you are removing, you just want to say that they weren't able to graduate from high school—but it's possible that they were able to reach Grade 9, Grade 8... So, it's not reflective of a quality education being given by DepEd.)
'Again, 5.5 million pa rin ang nakapagtapos ng senior high school or high school na hindi maka-comprehend ng binabasa…5.5 million pa rin 'yun, malaki pa rin. Gusto niyo lang sabihin sa'min na 'yung 13 million, hindi kasi nakapag-tapos pero pwedeng nag-aral 'yun,' he continued.
(Again, there are still 5.5 million who graduated from senior high school or high school who can't understand what they read...that's still 5.5 million, it's still a lot. You just want to tell us that the 13 million were removed because they didn't graduate, but they could have still gone to school.) –NB, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
BARMM posts highest illiteracy rate in PH at 14.4% — PSA
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has the highest illiteracy rate in the country, with 14.4% of residents aged five and above unable to read or write. The plight of education in BARMM was evident in the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Thursday, July 31. The 14.4% score is more than double the national illiteracy rate of 6.9%, highlighting an alarming learning crisis in one of the country's poorest regions. "As in any survey that we are conducting, there is disparity across regions—and across provinces and highly urbanized cities," said Claire Dennis S. Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General, during the presentation of the national survey results. Hunger, literacy are deeply linked Mapa said emerging analysis from the PSA's Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) shows a strong correlation between food insecurity and low literacy, particularly in Mindanao and other underdeveloped regions. "If a person is hungry, learning becomes a challenge," Mapa said, adding that nutrition and poverty must be addressed alongside formal education to truly improve functional literacy. He said the PSA is analyzing CBMS and FLEMMS data and will present more findings at the upcoming National Convention on Statistics. Tawi-Tawi most at risk Underscoring the need to strengthen education in the region, BARMM also registered the following scores in the 2024 FLEMMS: Lowest basic literacy rate (ability to read, write, and compute): 81.0% (compared to national average of 90.0%) Lowest functional literacy rate (which includes comprehension): 59.3% (compared to 70.8% nationally) Within BARMM, Tawi-Tawi had the lowest basic literacy rate among all 82 provinces in the Philippines at 60.9%. The country's southernmost province also registered the lowest functional literacy rate at 33.2%—meaning two out of every three residents aged 10 to 64 cannot fully comprehend what they read. These outcomes reflect decades of inequality in education access, compounded by poverty, food insecurity, and weak local capacity. Top performers As for the highest performing provinces, upland provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region stood out: Apayao had the highest basic literacy rate among provinces at 95.2% Benguet topped functional literacy at 87.9% Among highly urbanized cities: Pasay City posted the highest basic literacy rate at 96.2% San Juan City led in functional literacy with 94.5% These top performers are generally urban or semi-urban areas, with better access to education, health services, and infrastructure. Education isn't only barrier The PSA dropped its previous practice of automatically classifying high school graduates as functionally literate, after finding that 2% of completers could not comprehend text in the 2019 survey. All individuals aged five and above were directly tested last year—more than 572,000 people nationwide—making this the most rigorous and localized literacy assessment to date. Only 10.8% of those with no formal education were functionally literate, while 93.2% of post-baccalaureate graduates passed. "Literacy is not just about reading and writing—it's about comprehension," Mapa said. "And to comprehend, a person must not only be educated, but nourished and supported," he stressed. The 2024 FLEMMS was also the first time that the PSA generated literacy data down to the provincial and city level. Mapa urged local government units (LGUs), especially in Mindanao, to use their corresponding regional data to design and fund targeted interventions. "We want LGUs to own the data—this is your province's result, your city's challenge. What actions should your local government take?" he said. Food insecurity, education, and literacy are deeply interconnected, the PSA said, and must be tackled as a whole—not in silos. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
Teachers urged to ‘stop shaming students' amid comprehension crisis
Students are often shamed instead of supported in the classroom — and this culture may be contributing to the country's worsening comprehension crisis, an education leader warned during the release of the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) on Thursday. 'Ang teachers ang nagsi-shame sa learners... kaya kailangan piliin natin kung sino ang nasa teaching profession,' said Dr. Majah-Leah V. Ravago, Director of Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization – Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH), during the media forum held after the Philippine Statistics Authority's (PSA's) presentation of national literacy data. (Teachers are the ones shaming learners... that's why we need to be deliberate in choosing who enters the teaching profession.) According to the survey, the country's basic literacy rate — or the ability to read and write simple messages — stood at 93.1% among Filipinos aged 10 to 64. However, the functional literacy rate, which includes comprehension, dropped to just 70.8%. The gap highlights that while many Filipinos can read and compute, a significant portion cannot understand or apply what they read — a problem that worsens with age, region, and socioeconomic conditions. 'Nakikita natin sa mga probinsya, marami tayong naririnig na: 'Mahina ka sa math? Mag-teacher ka na lang,'' she said. (In the provinces, we often hear: 'You're weak in math? Just become a teacher.') 'Yung ganung pananaw, kailangan nating baguhin.' (That kind of mindset, we need to change it.) Ravago's remarks came after PSA chief Dr. Claire Dennis S. Mapa confirmed that reading comprehension is now the primary challenge, not basic literacy, with many learners able to read and compute but unable to analyze, infer, or draw conclusions from what they read. 'Marunong sila magbasa, marunong sila magsulat, marunong sila mag-compute pero ang problema, yung comprehension,' Mapa said. (They know how to read, write, and compute — but the problem is understanding what these mean.) Ravago echoed the need for foundational learning reforms and highlighted the role of teachers in shaping not just academic performance, but a student's sense of confidence and belonging in the classroom. Reforming the profession To improve comprehension, Ravago proposes: Raising standards for entry into the teaching profession Training teachers not just in pedagogy, but in positive classroom culture Increasing salaries and reducing non-teaching tasks to attract top talent 'Let's make the teaching profession attractive because they are the shapers of our learners,' Ravago stressed. While acknowledging that efforts have been made, she also noted that more is needed to uplift teachers and prevent harmful practices like shaming, especially in struggling schools. The call echoes long-standing concerns among learners, parents, and education advocates — that improving how teachers teach and treat students is as critical as upgrading curriculum and infrastructure. The full 2024 FLEMMS data, including literacy levels by province and city, will be released later this year via The survey, conducted in 2024, covered over 572,000 individuals across 177,000 households, making it the most extensive literacy study in the country's history. — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
PSA: Only 70.8% of Filipinos aged 10–64 functionally literate
National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa presents the PSA's findings on functional literacy on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Sherylin Untalan/GMA Integrated News The Philippines is facing a comprehension crisis, according to newly released government data, with more than 1 in 5 Filipinos aged 10 to 64 having difficulty understanding what they read—despite being able to read, write, and compute. This alarming gap was exposed in the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), unveiled Thursday, July 31, by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). According to National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa, the basic literacy rate—the share of people who can read, write, and compute—is 93.1%, but only 70.8% are considered functionally literate, meaning they can also comprehend. 'For every nine individuals aged 10 to 64 who can read, write, and compute, two have difficulty with comprehension,' Mapa said during his presentation at SEAMEO INNOTECH in Quezon City. The 22.3-point gap reveals a troubling reality behind seemingly strong literacy numbers—what some observers now call a hidden learning crisis. New definitions reveal deeper truths This year marks a turning point in the way literacy is measured in the country. The PSA, in consultation with DepEd and EdCom II, revised its definitions: Basic literacy now includes numeracy alongside reading and writing. Functional literacy adds the crucial skill of comprehension, tested directly for the first time. Previously, even those who merely finished high school were automatically counted as functionally literate. But PSA analysis of 2019 data showed that 2% of high school completers could not comprehend what they read—prompting the agency to remove automatic classifications and instead assess every individual aged 5 and up. 'There's no more automatic assignment. Everybody is tested now,' Mapa said. A national problem with local faces Mapa emphasized that the updated FLEMMS is now more granular, with results available down to the provincial and highly urbanized city level—the most detailed literacy survey yet. Key findings show staggering disparities: Tawi-Tawi posted a functional literacy rate of just 33.2%, meaning only 1 in 3 residents aged 10–64 there can read, write, compute and comprehend. BARMM had the highest illiteracy rate at 14.4%. Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) had the lowest functional literacy among regions at 59.3%. In contrast, Benguet led provinces at 87.9%, while San Juan City topped all highly urbanized cities with 94.5%. Women ahead, seniors behind Women consistently outperformed men across literacy metrics: 74.1% of women aged 10–64 are functionally literate, compared to 67.6% of men. Age matters: The 20–24 age group had the highest functional literacy (78.3%), while seniors aged 60–64 had the lowest at 57.8%. Mapa said these patterns reflect both generational access to education and the growing impact of digital information environments, which are now being captured in new modules on ICT skills and problem solving. Education doesn't guarantee comprehension The survey reinforced the strong link between educational attainment and literacy: 93.2% of post-baccalaureate individuals were functionally literate. Only 10.8% of those with no schooling passed the functional literacy test. Still, Mapa cautioned against equating diplomas with understanding. 'Completing high school does not necessarily mean you understand what you read,' he said, aligning with EdCom II findings and the World Bank's 2022 learning poverty estimate that 91% of Filipino 10-year-olds could not read and comprehend a simple story. Mapa clarified that while methodologies differ, both reports signal the same problem — that school completion is no longer a reliable measure of learning. Philippines still competitive in ASEAN—barely The PSA also compared the country's performance against ASEAN peers. Using the standard 'can read and write' definition: The Philippines scored 94.6%, slightly behind Malaysia (95.7%) and Indonesia (96.7%). But unlike most countries that rely on proxy answers (from a household head), the Philippines tested individuals directly—a more rigorous method. 'We directly tested over half a million individuals, five years old and above,' Mapa said, noting that this sets the Philippine data apart from most ASEAN states. More data to come: digital literacy, adult competencies The PSA announced that further results from FLEMMS will be released in the coming months, including: A new Digital Literacy module, measuring skills in data handling, content creation, online safety, and collaboration. The Philippines' first participation in the OECD-aligned Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), covering 11,000 households. From national data to local action Mapa said PSA's goal is not only to inform national policymakers, but also to empower local governments by providing literacy data tailored to their cities and provinces. 'We want LGUs to own the data—this is your province's result, your city's challenge. What actions should your local government take?' he said. The next FLEMMS is scheduled for 2027, a shorter three-year interval to help track progress before the end of the current administration. — BM, GMA Integrated News
