Significant Drop in Struggling Readers Reported by DepEd
The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced a remarkable decline in the number of struggling readers among Filipino students, attributing this success to its new learning programs. Officials reported that the number of 3rd-grade students labeled as “low-emerging readers” fell dramatically, showcasing the positive impact of targeted literacy efforts.
DepEd revealed that the count of struggling readers dropped from 51,537 to just 1,871 nationwide. This improvement is credited to the summer literacy initiatives, including the Learning Recovery Program (LRP) and the Bawat Bata Makababasa Program (BBMP), which have been instrumental in enhancing reading skills.
Reading Gains Across Northern Mindanao
Community members in Northern Mindanao noted significant growth in the number of students able to read from Grades 1 to 3. The figures soared across various grade levels and languages, reflecting the effectiveness of the new learning programs.
- Grade 1 (Mother Tongue): increased from 673 to 6,588 students
- Grade 2 (Filipino): rose from 719 to 6,398 students
- Grade 3 (Filipino): jumped from 539 to 6,703 students
- Grade 3 (English): grew from 355 to 5,100 students
Overall, DepEd reported that these initiatives have enhanced the reading capabilities of approximately 50,000 learners through the LRP and an additional 42,000 through the BBMP.
Legislative Support to Sustain Progress
Officials expressed confidence that this momentum will continue under Republic Act No. 12028, also known as the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (Aral) Program law. This legislation is set to bolster the expansion of both the LRP and BBMP, ensuring more students benefit from these programs.
“Thanks to the Department of Education’s measures under the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program, the number of students struggling with reading continues to decrease,” local leaders said in Filipino, highlighting the government’s commitment.
Addressing the Literacy Crisis
The government intensified reading initiatives after alarming reports revealed the extent of literacy challenges in the country. According to sources, a 2021 World Bank report showed that learning poverty in the Philippines had surged to 90 percent, meaning nine out of 10 children under 10 years old could not read.
Furthermore, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority indicated that nearly 19 million Filipino students who graduated from junior and senior high school in 2024 are considered functionally illiterate. This means that while they can read words, they struggle to comprehend the meaning of texts.
Future Outlook
With the new learning programs making a significant impact, officials remain optimistic about further reducing functional illiteracy rates. These efforts aim to equip students with critical thinking and reading comprehension skills, vital for their academic and personal growth.
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