The horror story of a literacy disaster

We are going to discover ourselves actually within the gutter within the subsequent decade if leaders do not heed the suggestions of the report

The unique editorial was translated to English utilizing an internet AI translation instrument. An editor vetted and revised elements of the interpretation earlier than publication.

It takes a robust abdomen to learn the EDCOM II Closing Report — it’s documented proof of the darkness that awaits a society that has squandered its future. It’s a real horror story and it’s our actuality now as Filipinos. 

Exaggerated? Learn and weep. That is what the dual malaise of poverty and ignorance appears to be like like. That is the face of many years of failed schooling governance.

In line with the report, of the scholars who attain Grade 7, 88% are UNABLE to learn at that degree. (READ: 88% of scholars coming into Grade 7 struggling to learn at that degree)

With 30% of scholars failing in proficiency in Grade 3, solely a tiny fraction — .4% are proficient by the point they attain Grade 12. (READ: Not even 1% of Grade 12 college students ‘proficient’ of their topics)

Do not forget that quantity: 0.4%. It didn’t even hit one p.c.

One of many roots recognized by EDCOM 2 is the stunting of 23.6% of Filipino youngsters — which causes “irreversible neurological injury.” In different phrases, our youth are shedding mind energy resulting from malnutrition.

The committee additional discovered that the federal government’s feeding applications failed to succeed in those that wanted them. That’s compounded by the shortage of compliant daycare facilities all through the nation. Our children are handicapped from the beginning line.

Rappler did a deep dive into the findings of EDCOM 2 by way of a collection of articles by Acor Arceo: 

There are such a lot of particulars within the EDCOM 2 report — every one a compressed synopsis of an issue that’s big and complex when unpacked.

However EDCOM 2 additionally brings hope. For 3 years, the committee produced complete and meticulous research on the state of schooling within the Philippines. It’s a testomony to the priority and knowledge of the lecturers and consultants who wrestled with the info and got here to bitter however lifelike conclusions. 

But it surely goes past that. The report’s golden reward comes within the type of suggestions that should be applied by current and future leaders to restore our damaged academic system. (WATCH Within the Public Sq.: Final probability? Reforming PH schooling)

All rebounds begin with self-awareness. Hopefully the EDCOM 2 reviews might be a lifeline that may velocity up the restoration of literacy within the nation. In any other case, we are going to actually be left within the gutter within the subsequent decade — not solely within the area of labor competitiveness, but additionally within the struggle in opposition to disinformation, in dealing with the challenges of Synthetic Intelligence (AI), and in general development as a considering nation.

Our leaders merely have to hear. The query is, can they — given the turmoil created by energy grabs and corruption finger-pointing? We are able to solely shake our heads in despair. – Rappler.com