DepEd on WB report that 90% of kids suffer from learning poverty: It is being resolved 

READING LESSON A teacher in Marawi City uses cue cards to guide her student to read. INQUIRER file photo / DIVINA SUSON

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday acknowledged that the country has been suffering from “learning poverty” following a report from the World Bank (WB) that 90 percent of children with age 10 years old could not read.

The WB, which defines learning poverty as being unable to read and understand a simple text by age 10, said the country’s learning poverty was worsened by distance schooling. But in 2019, even before the pandemic struck, learning poverty in the Philippines was already at 69.5 percent.

“The issue of learning poverty has been a dilemma of the country for years and the Department is proactively dealing with it for the long term,” the DepEd said in a statement.

DepEd said they have implemented measures to address the learning poverty in the country.

The agency said they have launched the Bawat Bata Bumabasa (3Bs) initiative nationwide, to come up with contextualized approaches to increase reading proficiency among learners, as well as the Every Child a Reader Program (ECARP) also integrates strengthened initiatives on Early Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program (ELLN), Mother Tongue-Based of Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE), and Pedagogical Retooling in Mathematics, Languages, and Science (PRIMALS).

DepEd explained that the said programs are in line with the agency’s Sulong EduKalidad campaign and Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP) 2030 that is set to materialize “in the coming years.”

“We have come a long way in our quest for quality education but we are not yet done with our journey. Our efforts must be consistent, cohesive, and collaborative for us to achieve in delivering quality education to every Filipino child,” DepEd said.

“[W]e are leaving behind a worthy mission to continue for the next DepEd administration,” the agency added.

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WB: 9 out of 10 PH kids age 10 can’t read 

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