IT IS ALARMING that 87 percent of junior high school (Grade 11) students struggle to read independently, an indication of a severe literacy crisis, according to the Department of Education.
The DepEd classified the 87% of Grade 11 students as “non-independent readers,” a serious indication of deep and longstanding learning gaps across the education system, reported ABSCBN.
DepEd Undersecretary for Learning Systems Carmela Oracion said the agency recognizes the gravity of the findings reported by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), stressing that the problem did not originate in senior high school but accumulated over many years.
“Gusto kong sabihin na 87 is no small number. A bit of a background on this, actually for the past few years, meron tayo iyong assessments na CRLA for Key Stage 1 (Kindergarten to Grade 3) and then Phil-IRI for Key Stages 2 and 3 (Grades 4 to 6, up to 10). And then last year, we saw that the results were very bad,” Oracion said.
CRLA stands for Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment, a standardized diagnostic tool used by teachers to quickly determine the reading profiles of learners in Key Stage 1 (Grades 1 to 3) and identify those who need targeted reading interventions.
“I’d like to state very clearly that DepEd recognizes that this is very serious,” she added.
Oracion said the literacy crisis reflects learning deficits that began in the early grades and worsened over time due to a combination of social and educational factors.
“When a Grade 11 learner…struggles to read independently, it signals that the problem did not start in senior high school…This is a cumulative gap that has come to be over a period of time,” she said.
Oracion stressed that the problem cannot be attributed to a single cause, citing a combination of poverty-related challenges, limited academic support at home, inadequate access to learning and reading materials, recurring class disruptions, and the long-term impact of pandemic-induced learning losses.
She added that poverty remains one of the most significant barriers to education, with many Filipino learners growing up without basic educational resources that are often readily available to their more privileged peers.
Oracion agreed that the current learning crisis reflects broader systemic problems in Philippine education.
“I agree that whatever problem we are facing now, as indicated by the assessment results, is really a broader failure of the education system. I will not say that it is a broader failure of the K-12 system,” Oracion said.
Interventions
In response to the alarming literacy results, DepEd launched a summer remediation program for senior high school students, which Oracion said ends this week.
“Siniseryoso talaga ng department ‘yan. Beginning with the senior high school remediation program this past summer,” and this ends tomorrow, she said.
The agency is also preparing literacy assessments before the opening of classes to identify students who need targeted interventions and tutoring support.
“Ang gagawin natin next week, June 8 until June 11, ay magli-literacy assessment na tayo, para malaman natin sino pa ba ang nangangailangan ng special attention,” Oracion explained.
She said remediation efforts will be embedded throughout the school year under the new three-term school calendar, which DepEd considers a key reform for learning recovery.
“Umaasa tayo sa benefits ng three-term school calendar. We really think that this is a move to organize the way we run a school year. Imbis na labo-labo, halo-halo, ang ginagawa natin, there’s a dedicated time for teaching and learning,” she said.
“There’s also a dedicated time for remediation, enrichment, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities. We state for a fact that not only academics are important in the education and formation of a child. Importante din ang mga remedial, enrichment programs, at activities,” she added.
She noted that learning gaps remain evident across all grade levels, although DepEd is beginning to see improvements among younger learners.
Oracion acknowledged that teacher workload continues to be a challenge despite reforms aimed at reducing administrative burdens.
“Ang isa ko pang nakikita iyong overburdened school teachers. Palaging nilalabas ‘yan ng ating mga kasamahan sa field. Ginagawa naman talaga rin ng ating HR office ang lahat. Na-simplify na ang mga forms,” she said.
EDCOM 2
The DepED March 2026 pilot run of its SHS Literacy Assessment showed 87 percent of Grade 11 students were not independent readers, meaning they could not comprehend or understand the materials they read based on their level.
“Only 12 percent of learners in the 11th Grade Level are independent learners or readers that are fully able to comprehend or understand as expected from their grade level what the outcome or the information is supposed to be,” lsaid EDCOM II’s Atty. Simoun Salinas oto the House Committee on Basic Education.
EDCOM also said the assessment showed that 872,906 or 58.92 percent of Grade 11 learners remained at the lowest “frustration” level and 422,497 or 28.5 percent were at the “instructional level.