Manila: Local government units (LGUs) have a crucial role in helping enhance the quality of learning outcomes among basic education learners in the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday said. This assertion highlights the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing educational challenges within the country.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) is set to launch the "Bayang Bumabasa: Mayors for Literacy" initiative on July 1. This program aims to engage mayors nationwide in efforts to elevate foundational literacy within their respective LGUs. DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that improving the quality of education is a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and LGUs are considered essential partners in this endeavor.

Angara's remarks come in the wake of concerning findings from the Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment (CRLA) for the school year 2024 to 2025, which revealed that 52 percent of Grades 1 to 3 learners were reportedly not grade-level ready in terms of reading. This statistic translates to 2,851,215 out of the 5,455,581 learners assessed across 18 regions nationwide. Angara stressed that by replicating the commitment and innovation seen in some of the top-performing LGUs, learning outcomes across the country could be significantly improved.

The assessment further revealed that of the total learners evaluated, 47.74 percent were reading at grade level. The rest were categorized as transitioning readers at 31.14 percent, developing readers at 8.95 percent, low emerging readers at 8.57 percent, and high emerging readers at 3.6 percent.