Iloilo sees literacy, numeracy gains in 2025 summit

By Mariela Angella Oladive

More than 450 of the 1,172 schools in Iloilo province now have zero non-readers, according to Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr. during the 2025 Provincial Education Summit on Sept. 12.

“This is an indication that we are gaining ground along our efforts to combat the low performance of our learners along literacy and numeracy,” Servillon said.

In the previous year, data showed that only 9 percent of schools in the province had recorded improvements in literacy and numeracy, with 52 schools reporting “zero non-readers” and 59 schools reporting “zero non-numerates.”

Servillon credited the improvement to the enhanced “Tib-ong Bumulutho” (Advancing Learners) program, which introduced targeted interventions in reading and numeracy.

These included remediation sessions, the hiring of remedial teachers, capacity-building activities, and contextualized district and municipal programs.

“We have a dramatic increase in the performance of our learners in Key Stage 1, that is, from Kindergarten to Grade 3,” he said.

He noted that before the program’s implementation, 26.42 percent of Key Stage 1 learners were classified under the frustration level.

As of April 2024, the figure dropped to 7.71 percent, with 92.29 percent of learners now considered grade-level ready.

For Key Stage 2 (Grades 4 to 6), 82.06 percent of learners are performing at or above grade level, though Servillon emphasized the need for additional targeted strategies as students move from beginner to developmental reading stages.

Key Stage 3 (Grades 7 to 10) showed that 76.02 percent of learners are reading at the instructional or independent level, indicating improved reading comprehension.

Numeracy also showed gains, with an 8.42 percent decrease in overall non-numerates.

Grade 7 posted a 29.21 percent drop in non-numerates, while Grade 5 and Grade 6 recorded 2.77 percent and 1.68 percent reductions, respectively.

Meanwhile, 90 percent of Grades 1 to 6 students met the expected numeracy benchmarks.

Servillon expressed optimism that further improvements will be evident once the latest assessment results are released.

Themed “Effective, Relevant, and Transformative Education in Iloilo,” the summit brought together education leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders.

The event also tackled initiatives under the Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya (BES Probins) Program, including reading sessions through BES Basa, career guidance, counseling, voters’ education, and discussions on devolving certain education functions to local government units.

Education Undersecretary Peter Irving Corvera commended Iloilo’s proactive efforts, calling the province a “model and laboratory of education” in the Philippines.

“Iloilo has gone beyond compliance… Your leadership, together with the support of the Department of Education, shows what can be achieved when local governments, schools, and communities join forces for education,” he said.