Literacy should be a national priority

Alarm bells should be ringing across the nation. The Philippines is facing a crippling literacy crisis that threatens not just our global competitiveness, but the very founda- tions of our democracy, economy and growth prospects.

- JOE ZALDARRIAGA

According to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), the number of functionally illiterate Filipinos has surged to 24.8 million in 2024, nearly doubling from 14.5 million in 1993.

Functional illiteracy, as defined in the Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), refers to the lack of comprehension to use basic reading and writing skills in everyday life. This means millions of Filipinos are unable to understand information well enough to navigate everyday tasks, access gainful employment, engage in civic and political discourse, and make informed decisions for themselves and their families.

The implications of this problem are profound and far-reaching.

One, this type of workforce that cannot comprehend effectively cannot compete, and businesses will struggle to find skilled labor. When this happens, productivity suffers and the ability to create innovative solutions will not materialize.

A functionally illiterate population is also more vulnerable to misinformation, which means they are easy targets for scams and propaganda. Citizens who cannot understand how the law works, what their vote means or how to spot fake news cannot make informed decisions.