Phillipines

 

 

Population (approx.)

72 million

 

Literacy Statistics

Overall: 94.6%

Male: 95.0%

Female: 94.3%

 

GNP Per Capita (US Dollars)

$3,550

 

 

Source: The World Bank Development Indicators, 1996; CIA World Fact Book 1997

 

Country Report presented by Ophelia P. Veniegas

With over 14% of the population in the Philippines functionally illiterate and 40% living below the poverty line, the Philippine government is seeking to expand its working definition of literacy to include political empowerment, social consciousness, and environmental education.

The Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) was created in 1991 to carry out the Philippine government's recently adopted national policy to eradicate illiteracy in the country by the year 2000. The LCC is an inter-agency body composed of eight members appointed by the President to serve for three years.

Among the highlights of the LCC's work are the establishment of the National Literacy Congress, national literacy awards, increased and sustained tri-media coverage (radio, TV, and print), ongoing computerized databases, and documentation of successful functional literacy programs.

In addition, the LCC has developed a National Blueprint for Action, supported research studies on indigenous literacy strategies, helped with the standardization of literacy tests, developed post-literacy materials, and conducted surveys of literacy specialists and institutions.

The LCC's success is due to several factors:

  • support of the government,
  • projects are community- and needs-based,
  • integration of literacy in development programs, and
  • effective social mobilization and advocacy.

The LCC also has an extensive research agenda with the mandate to perform the following:

  • establish and maintain a national database to support literacy efforts;
  • devise the management structure for successful literacy programs;
  • devise support structures for literacy at the regional and local levels;
  • identify technical assistance areas for functional literacy programs;
  • explore further use of media for social mobilization and promotion of literacy;
  • propose linkages between the national Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (DECS), home, community, local government units, and other inter-agency modes;
  • investigate the needs of special groups such as young children, women, disabled, handicapped, and gifted learners;
  • explore new avenues of raising funds to support literacy programs and projects;
  • research how effective volunteerism is achieved;
  • devise effective monitoring and evaluation methods;
  • create an accreditation scheme for community volunteers; and
  • establish an accreditation program of life skills competencies acquired by the learners in functional literacy classes for job placement opportunities/entrepreneurship.

 

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INTERNATIONAL LITERACY INSTITUTE
Graduate School of Education/University of Pennsylvania
3910 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-3111 USA
Telephone 215-898-2100 | Fax 215-898-9804 | E-mail: sltp@literacy.upenn.edu
Revised: July 6, 1998