Gatchalian bill seeks to achieve 'zero illiteracy' in the country

Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a bill that aims to accelerate the universalization of literacy in the country. Senate Bill No. 2348 or the "National Literacy Council Act" renames and strengthens the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) established through Republic Act No. 7165 and seeks the formulation of a three-year roadmap to achieve zero illiteracy.

To achieve the goal of eradicating illiteracy, the proposed measure synchronizes with the implementation of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) while mobilizing Local School Boards (LSBs) as the de facto local literacy councils. The ALS is a parallel learning system that provides a viable alternative to the existing formal instruction, which includes non-formal sources of knowledge and skills. It also aims to raise the level of literacy to contribute to an individual's sustainable future.

Under the proposed measure, the Council's technical secretariat will be transferred to the Bureau of Alternative Education (BAE) for administrative and technical support. Under Republic Act 11510 or the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Act, the BAE is established to be the focal office for the implementation of ALS programs.

The mobilization of LSBs also complements the implementation of Republic Act No. 11315 or the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Act. The CBMS Act capacitates LGUs and communities in creating databases at the local level, which will provide useful information for the design, targeting, and impact monitoring of poverty reduction programs and development initiatives.

"Sa isinusulong nating panukalang batas, mahalaga ang magiging papel ng parehong ALS at ng ating mga lokal na pamahalaan upang makamit ang zero illiteracy sa ating bansa. Ang pag-abot ng zero illiteracy ang isa sa mga unang mahalagang hakbang upang matiyak na wala tayong kababayang mapagkakaitan ng magandang kinabukasan," said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

The 2019 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) showed that six out of 100 Filipinos 5 years old and over are still not basically literate. This means 6 million Filipinos cannot read or write with understanding of simple messages. That same year, 8% of Filipinos aged 10 to 64 were functionally illiterate. This means 6.7 million Filipinos in this age group lack the skills to participate fully and efficiently in daily activities, which require a reasonable capacity of communicating through a written language.

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Panukalang batas ni Gatchalian layong maabot ang 'zero illiteracy' sa bansa

Naghain si Senador Win Gatchalian ng panukalang batas na layong pabilisin ang pag-abot ng "zero illiteracy" sa bansa.

Sa ilalim ng Senate Bill No. 2348 o ang "National Literacy Council Act," ang Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) na nabuo dahil sa Republic Act No. 7165 ay magiging National Literacy Council. Isinusulong din ng panukalang batas ang pagkakaroon ng three-year roadmap upang makamit ang zero illiteracy.

Sa pagsugpo sa illiteracy sa bansa, mahalaga ang magiging papel ng Alternative Learning System (ALS) habang ang mga Local School Boards (LSBs) naman ay magsisilbing de facto local literacy councils. Ang ALS ay isang sistema ng non-formal education na nagbibigay ng oportunidad sa mga hindi nakapag-aral o hindi nakatapos sa ilalim ng pormal na sistema. Layunin din ng ALS na linangin ang literasiya ng mga mamamayan.

Sa ilalim ng panukalang batas, ang technical secretariat ng Council ay ililipat sa Bureau of Alternative Education (BAE) para sa administrative at technical support. Sa ilalim ng Republic Act No. 11510 o ang ALS Act, ang BAE ay itinatag upang pamunuan ang pagpapatupad ng mga programa para sa ALS.

Ang pagpapakilos sa mga LSBs naman ay sang-ayon sa pagpapatupad ng Republic Act No. 11315 o Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) Act. Binibigyan ng CBMS Act ang mga lokal na pamahalaan at mga komunidad ng kakayahang gumawa ng sarili nilang database para sa mas mabisang pag-disenyo, targeting, at impact monitoring ng mga programang pangkaunlaran at laban sa kahirapan.

"Sa isinusulong nating panukalang batas, mahalaga ang magiging papel ng parehong ALS at ng ating mga lokal na pamahalaan upang makamit ang zero illiteracy sa ating bansa. Ang pag-abot ng zero illiteracy ang isa sa mga unang mahalagang hakbang upang matiyak na wala tayong kababayang mapagkakaitan ng magandang kinabukasan," ani Gatchalian, Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Ayon sa 2019 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), anim (6) sa isang-daang (100) Pilipinong may edad na lima (5) pataas ang hindi pa rin maituturing na "basically literate". Ibig sabihin, may anim (6) na milyong mga Pilipino ang hindi makapagbasa at makapagsulat na may pag-unawa sa mga simpleng mensahe.

Sa parehong taon, walong (8) porsyento ng mga Pilipinong may edad na sampu (10) hanggang animnapu't apat (64) ang lumalabas na functionally illiterate. Ibig sabihin, halos pitong (6.7) milyong Pilipino sa age group na ito ang walang sapat at angkop na kakayahang makilahok sa mga pang-araw-araw na gawain gamit ang wikang panulat.

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