Literacy issues threaten Phl's AI and digital innovation goals

The Philippines' goal to become a leader in AI and digital innovation may be held back by a more basic problem: many senior high school graduates still struggle with functional literacy, said Michelle Alarcon, president of the Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines (AAAP).

- Ehda M. Dagooc Staff Member

Speaking at a recently held Globe Business "G summit 2025", Alarcon cited statistics from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that point to an "alarming percentage" of senior high graduates who, while formally literate, struggle to apply the very concepts they were taught.

"They may have gone through the motions of schooling, but when it comes to applying knowledge, many fall short. That's a serious national concern," she warned.

While much of the public discourse has centered around building "Technology Quotient" or TQ—a measure of one's ability to adapt and thrive in digital environments—Alarcon cautioned that this metric may be insufficient.