Investing in literacy for competitiveness

As the United Nations observes International Literacy Day today, September 8, the world sits up to take notice of an urgent reminder. Literacy, which is the ability to read, write, and comprehend, is the gateway to learning, opportunity, and empowerment. For the Philippines, it is also a sobering occasion to confront persistent challenges in basic education that continue to hinder our national competitiveness.

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The country has long struggled with a perennial classroom shortage. While the Department of Education, as well as some resource-laden local governments have made strides in building new classrooms, a big gap remains. Budget constraints mean that government resources are stretched thin, leaving public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a crucial lifeline in expanding access to safe, conducive classrooms and learning spaces. Yet, without a coherent long-term program to address infrastructure needs, classroom congestion will persist, eroding the quality of instruction and the overall learning experience of Filipino children.