The Department of Education (DepEd) assured that it is taking concrete steps to address functional literacy in the country, including the continued implementation and enhancement of programs to ensure that no child is left behind in learning.
In line with this, the DepEd is strengthening the implementation of four major summer learning programs this May to enhance the foundational skills of students across various grade levels.
These include the Bawat Bata Bumabasa Program (BBBP), Literacy Remediation Program (LRP), Summer Academic Remedial Program, and the Learning Camp (LC).
Moreover, these learning interventions support a broader strategy for education recovery, centered on strategic teaching, mobilization of volunteers, learner support, and active community participation to prevent learning gaps.
"Nanawagan kami sa ating mga katuwang at stakeholders na makiisa sa misyong ito. Ang bawat batang Pilipino ay may karapatang matutong bumasa, makaunawa, at magtagumpay—at makakamit lamang natin ito sa tulong ng sama-samang pagkilos," DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara stated.
"Higit pa sa isang summer program, ang mga inisyatibong ito ay bahagi ng mas malawak na kilusan upang muling itayo ang pundasyon ng edukasyon," he added.
The agency has also refined its teaching and assessment strategies to emphasize critical thinking over memorization-based learning.
This development was prompted by findings from the Philippine Statistics Authority's 2019–2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), which indicated that nearly 18 million Filipinos who completed high school still struggle with reading, arithmetic, and reaching their full potential.
