DepEd: Reforms underway to address functional illiteracy

Reforms are underway to address functional illiteracy in the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd) said yesterday.

- By BELLA CARIASO

Based on the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2)’s report, the number of functionally illiterate Filipinos has nearly doubled to 24.8 million in the past 30 years.

“With President Marcos’ support, we are aligning resources, streamlining functions and focusing on what matters most: foundational learning and literacy recovery,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

EDCOM 2 has expressed concern over the DepEd’s involvement in over 261 inter-agency bodies, saying this has diverted the agency’s focus from its core mandate.

In 1993, EDCOM 1 had urged the government to allow the agency to focus on basic education to address the issue of 14.5 million functionally illiterate Filipinos at the time.