DepEd-7 on functional literacy rate in CV: Not alarming but needs immediate intervention

Local

THE Department of Education-Central Visayas (DepEd 7) is ramping up efforts to improve the K-10 curriculum and expand teacher training programs to address the widening gap between basic and functional literacy across the region.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority Central Visayas (PSA-7) revealed a stark contrast between the region’s basic literacy rate of 95.7 percent and its functional literacy rate of only 67.6 percent.

This 28.1-point gap means that while most individuals aged 10 to 64 can read, write, and do basic math, nearly a third struggle to comprehend and apply information in real-life situations.

DepEd 7 Project Development Officer Adolf Aguilar said the issue is not yet alarming but emphasized that it requires immediate and focused interventions.

He stressed the need for the department to analyze the data closely and develop appropriate responses.

To address this, DepEd 7 has made literacy and reading comprehension top priorities.

The department encourages schools to implement their own school-based strategies for learners with low literacy levels, while also supporting targeted programs focused on English literacy and comprehension.

Aguilar said that the current curriculum already integrates 21st-century skills and critical thinking through media and information literacy classes in English and Filipino at the senior high school level.

He added that extracurricular activities like student government, sports, and school press conferences help cultivate critical thinking among students.

During the 2025 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (Flemms) Regional Forum held on May 29 in Cebu City, PSA 7 Director Wilma Perante said the findings point to a deeper issue in the education system, where basic skills alone no longer guarantee meaningful understanding.

She explained that functional literacy goes beyond reading and writing, involving the ability to interpret directions, understand news content, and read medication labels accurately.

Neil Nadrew Menjares, chief economic development specialist from the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, also highlighted the need for initiatives that improve both comprehension and the practical application of information.

Despite the region’s high basic literacy rate, PSA 7 warned that bridging the gap between knowing how to read and truly understanding what is read remains an urgent challenge.

Officials emphasized that improving functional literacy is vital in helping people make informed decisions and participate meaningfully in society.

Bohol registered a higher basic literacy rate at 94.2 percent compared to Cebu’s 90.62 percent. These provincial rates contributed to Central Visayas’ average, which remains above the national basic literacy rate of 90 percent.(MyTVCebu)