DepEd: Only 97% of Filipinos are functionally literate

Only 97% of Filipinos are considered functionally literate, which means 3% of the population do not know how to read and write, the Department of Education said on Thursday.

According to a report by Marisol Abdurahman on GMA News TV’s Balitanghali, the DepEd is aiming for a 100-percent functional literacy.

“Meron pa rin tatlong porsyento na mga kababayan natin ang hindi pa rin functionally literate,” DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito Umali said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) defines functional literacy as the level of literacy which includes not only reading and writing but also numeracy skills that would enable people to cope with the daily demands of life.

Umali said that some students who are not yet functionally literate were still accelerated to higher grade level.

“May nakakalusot pa rin na aabot po sa ganyang baitang. ‘Yan po ang dahilan to compliment what DepEd is doing,” he said.

Due to this, DepEd teamed up with the children organization World Vision Philippines in launching “Brigada Pagbasa,” a movement that seeks to improve functional literacy among Filipino children.

“Brigada Pagbasa could just be a means for every Filipino child to access quality education. Because of education, we’re able to become who we are today,” said  Rommel Fuerte, executive director of World Vision Philippines.

The Deped, World Vision Philippines and also the Philippine National Police encouraged the public to be involved in educating the children and developing their future. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News