The EDCOM II Final Report reveals a severe literacy crisis in the Philippines, with 88% of Grade 7 students unable to read at their level. Proficiency drops from 30% in Grade 3 to just 0.4% by Grade 12. The report warns of malnutrition's impact and systemic education failures.
The EDCOM II Final Report, released in February 2026, paints a grim picture of the Philippine education system. It states that 88% of students entering Grade 7 cannot read at their grade level. While 30% of Grade 3 students are proficient in subjects, this falls to a mere 0.4% by Grade 12—less than 1%.
A key root cause is childhood stunting affecting 23.6% of children, leading to irreversible brain damage from malnutrition. Feeding programs fail to reach intended recipients, and proper daycare centers are scarce nationwide.
Mass promotion serves as an unspoken policy in schools, with teachers acting as 'shock absorbers' for student failures. Instructional time is lost to excessive events like celebrations and contests, exacerbating learning losses, especially in disaster-prone areas where schools are no longer used as evacuation centers.
Teacher quality is undermined by diploma mills, requiring a Master of Arts in Education for promotions. There is an infrastructure gap for universal early childhood care and development. Government student financial aid needs better targeting and harmonization. Additionally, silos exist between the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), featuring fragmented, outdated structures and overlapping mandates.
Despite these issues, the report provides actionable recommendations for current and future leaders to revive literacy and modernize education amid challenges like AI and disinformation.