Legarda calls for action on 18.9 million functionally illiterate graduates

On Sunday, May 4, Senator Loren Legarda called for immediate government action to address the high number of functionally illiterate graduates from basic education.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority's 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), 18.9 million Filipinos who graduated between 2019 and 2024 struggle with reading comprehension and basic math skills.

Legarda emphasized that foundational learning must be prioritized to ensure children develop essential reading and comprehension skills by Grade 3, which are crucial for future academic success.

She warned that widespread functional illiteracy undermines workforce competitiveness, deepens social inequality, and hampers economic growth.

The senator urged targeted interventions in provinces with the highest levels of functional illiteracy and stressed the need to strengthen foundational learning, improve classroom conditions, and provide adequate resources for educators.