Illiteracy: An Affliction to the Society

Post date: Feb 21, 2018 8:44:22 AM

By:

ARVIN L. PASCUAL, T-I COBNHS

Illiteracy not only jeopardizes someone’s future, but also desolates the society, both socially and economically.

Most of us suppose that literacy, as a simple term, is being able to read. But although a toddler who can describe a basic picture is considered age-appropriate literate, an adult who can only read at the most fundamental level still lacks basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Adults are not only expected to read and understand basic texts, but also be able to function in the workplace - not to mention the skills essential to pursue higher education and the opportunities that come with it.

Consequently, when we talk about the effects of illiteracy on society, we’re basically referring to individuals who fail to perform effectively in the workplace. However, it is worth considering that childhood illiteracy is, of course, directly correlated to adult illiteracy.

In our country, literacy is a priority, so any effort to promote reading and writing is encouraged. According to Department of Education’s (DepEd) Literacy Coordinating Council OIC Dina Ocampo, “It is through literacy that one is empowered to interact in his community and realizes his worth, what he can do and eventually make him do things that contribute in sustainable development of his society.”

Presently, the high literacy rate in the country was achieved through the combined efforts of the government officials, particularly us, the educators, to encourage students to finish school. Furthermore, the Department of Education seeks to proliferate the number of effective educators who can contribute to literacy development by carefully selecting candidates and by providing seminars and trainings.

Although illiteracy seems like an overwhelming problem, there are many things that we can do to help. As teachers, we are expected to have an array of skills, knowledge, and experience to successfully teach students to read well. Additionally, we need to continue to develop our professional capacity throughout our careers.