2019 BASIC LITERACY IN NORTHERN MINDANAO | Philippine Statistics Authority

Release Date :

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Reference Number :

PSAX-SR-2021-18

This Special Release highlights the basic literacy in Northern Mindanao based on the results of the 2019 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (2019 FLEMMS).

FLEMMS is a nationwide household-based survey conducted every five years by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The 2019 FLEMMS is the sixth in the series of literacy surveys.It was conducted in November to December 2019. With regions as domain, FLEMMS registered response rates of 97.7 percent at the household level nationwide and 99.0 percent in Region10. At the individual level, the response rates were 94.8 percent nationwide and 97.2 percent in region 10.

FLEMMS primarily aims to provide a quantitative framework that will serve as basis of policies and programs for the improvement of literacy and education status of the population. Specifically, it aims to:

a. Estimate the proportion of the population 10 years old and over who are basically literate;

b. Estimate the proportion of the population 10 to 64 years old who are functionally literate and to determine their socio-economic characteristics;

c. Determine the educational skill qualifications of the population in terms of formal schooling; and

d. Determine the mass media exposure of the population

Based on the results of the 2019 FLEMMS, the basic literacy rate of population 5 years old and over in 2019 was 93.8 percent. The National Capital Region (NCR) registered the highest basic literacy rate of 97.6 percent, while BARMM posted the lowest at 78.7 percent. Northern Mindanao ranked 5th nationwide at 95.2 percent. (Table 1)

Individuals who were at least junior high school graduates or completers in the K-12 curriculum or equivalently, high school graduates in the old curriculum were considered basic literate and hence, had a 100 percent basic literacy rate. Persons with no grade completed or whose highest education attainment was early childhood education had the lowest estimated basic literacy rate of 44.8 percent. Note that 100 percent basic literacy rates do not necessarily imply complete absence of illiteracy. (Figure 1)

Generally, population 5 years old and overliving in urban areas had higher basic literacy rate than those in rural areas, with and without access to electricity except for CALABARZON, Eastern Visayas, and Northern Mindanao. (Table 2)

Results showed that those living in rural areas in Northern Mindanao had higher basic literate rate than those in urban areas, with and without access to electricity. For CALABARZON, those living in rural areas with access to electricity had higher basic literacy rate than those living in urban areas. While for Eastern Visayas, those living in rural areas without access to electricity had higher basic literacy rate than those in urban areas.

Within urban areas or rural areas, population 5 years old and over with access to electricity generally had higher basic literacy rate than those without except for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). For CAR, those living in urban areas without access to electricity hadhigher basic literacy rate than those with access to electricity.

Of the estimated 86 million population 10 years old and over, 96.5 percent were basic literate. The basic literacy rate of 96.5 percent in 2013 was sustained. By sex, though, male basic literacy rate inched down in 2019 while that of female inched up. Basic literacy rate of female in 2019 was slightly higher than that of men. (Table 3)

Meanwhile, for Northern Mindanao, 98.2 percent of the population 10 years old and over were basic literate. In 2019, the basic literacy rate among females in Region 10 was 1.2 percentage points higher than that of males. On the other hand, NCR registered the highest basic literacy rate among population 10 years old and over, while Northern Mindanao ranked second together with Region III. BARMM registered the lowest basic literacy rate.

On the other hand, NCR registered the highest basic literacy rate among population 10 years old and over. Northern Mindanao ranked second together with Region III. BARMM registered the lowest basic literacy rate. Seven regions posted basic literacy rates higher than the national rate, namely: NCR, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region.

(Sdg.)JANITH C. AVES, CE, DM

(Chief Statistical Specialist)

Officer-in-Charge

TECHNICAL NOTES

The FLEMMS, as in any survey, adopts recent developments in statistical methodology/processes and in the education system. The table below summarizes the comparison between FLEMMS 2019 and FLEMMS 2013.