Almost half or 46% of Grade 11 senior high students in Davao City have trouble reading and comprehending text by themselves, while only one out of four qualify as independent readers, according to data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education, or EdCom 2.

This was based on results from EdCom 2’s senior high school literacy and numeracy assessment for school year 2025-2026. Forty-six percent, translating to 15,914 students are in the ‘frustration level,’ while 29 percent, equivalent to 10,097 are categorized as ‘instructional readers,’ reported Jhun Suter of Aksyon Radyo Davao.

Only 25 percent or 8,453 demonstrated reading and comprehension skills appropriate for their grade level.

These results are alarming, said Davao City School Division Superintendent Reynante Solitario, as ineptitude in comprehension affects studies in mathematics, science, and other subjects.

In response, the Department of Education (DepEd) will be bolstering its Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, school-based reading initiatives, and other interventions for students in need of support.

DepEd emphasized the need for cooperation among teachers, parents, and schools to address the lack of reading skills in students.