MANILA, (PIA) — Senator Win Gatchalian is urging local government units (LGUs) to take action in the fight against illiteracy, aiming for a goal of zero illiteracy nationwide.
Gatchalian’s appeal comes in light of the recently released 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), which indicates that only seven out of ten Filipinos aged 10 to 64 are functionally literate. Functional literacy encompasses the abilities to read, write, compute, and comprehend.
Among Filipinos aged five to 18, the functional literacy rate stands at 69.2%. Gatchalian emphasized the need for targeted interventions to enhance literacy and numeracy skills by the end of Grade 3.
“Reading and counting are foundational skills that our students need, and community and local government involvement is essential to address this issue,” said Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education. He also announced that a hearing on the matter is scheduled for the 30th.
To combat illiteracy, Gatchalian has proposed the mobilization of LGUs through the National Literacy Council Act (Senate Bill No. 473). This bill would designate local school boards as the de facto local literacy councils in provinces, cities, and municipalities, allowing for a more coordinated approach to improving literacy rates.
Gatchalian’s initiative aims to create a collaborative effort among local governments to ensure that all Filipinos have access to the fundamental skills necessary for their educational and personal development. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
