The number of functionally illiterate Filipinos has surged to 24.8 million, according to new data released by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).
EDCOM 2 defines functional illiteracy as the condition of individuals who can read and write but fail to fully comprehend what they read. The figure has nearly doubled — from 14.5 million in 1993 to 24.8 million in 2024.
“EDCOM 2 raised the issue as it expressed concern that one of the reasons was the involvement of the Department of Education in at least 261 interagency bodies, which has diverted DepEd from its principal mandate of providing basic education,” the commission said in its Facebook post on Monday, November 3.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara also acknowledged that the growing burden of non-teaching work among teachers has affected classroom focus and learning outcomes.
He said the department plans to hire additional administrative staff to assist teachers with clerical and support duties so they can concentrate more on instruction.
In addition to those who are functionally illiterate, over six million Filipinos are classified as basically illiterate—those who cannot read, write, or comprehend written text.
Meanwhile, in a related study titled “Investigating the State of Graduate Education in the Philippines: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Implications,” EDCOM 2 noted that some current government programs, particularly within DepEd, have encouraged a “diploma-for-promotion” cycle.
This system, the commission said, often pushes educators to pursue higher degrees for career advancement rather than genuine academic or professional growth.
To address this, EDCOM 2 urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to enforce stricter quality control in graduate programs for teacher education and public administration to curb the rise of so-called “diploma mills.”