Functionally illiterate Filipinos nearly double to 24.8 million in 30 years

The number of functionally illiterate Filipinos has surged to 24.8 million, nearly doubling in the last three decades, according to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).

EDCOM 2 expressed concern that the Department of Education's (DepEd) participation in over 261 interagency bodies has diverted its focus from its primary duty of providing basic education.

This situation echoes the findings of EDCOM 1 in 1993, which identified 14.5 million functionally illiterate Filipinos and recommended that DepEd concentrate solely on basic education.

Despite past restructuring efforts, the number of functionally illiterate individuals has almost doubled, as indicated by the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara confirmed DepEd's extensive involvement in numerous interagency bodies, chairing at least 20 and co-attending 21 others.

EDCOM 2 highlighted that while the initial EDCOM led to the creation of new agencies to streamline functions, over 150 new laws and issuances since 2001 have imposed additional responsibilities on DepEd.