EDCOM 2: Nearly half of Davao region learners are struggling readers

Close to half of learners in the Davao region, including Davao City, were classified as struggling readers at the start of school year 2026-2027, according to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), as reported by Philstar.

EDCOM 2 based its findings on a Department of Education (DepEd) assessment conducted in June. It found that 48 percent of learners in the region and 45 percent in Davao City had difficulty reading. The commission said the figures mirror the national picture, where 45 percent of assessed learners were classified as struggling readers.

Under DepEd Memorandum 64, learners at the low-emerging level have limited knowledge of letters and their sounds and have trouble blending sounds and reading simple words. Those at the high-emerging level recognise most letters but still struggle to decode words at their grade level.

EDCOM 2 also said reading proficiency drops as learners move up through school, from 30.52 percent in Grade 3 to 19.56 percent in Grade 6, 0.74 percent in Grade 10 and 0.40 percent in Grade 12.

In Davao City, the commission reported that 25 percent of assessed learners, or 8,453, were independent readers, while 29 percent, or 10,097, were at the instructional level. Another 46 percent, or 15,914 learners, were at the frustration level.

Separately, EDCOM 2 cited results of the end-of-school-year Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment for school year 2025-2026. Among the region's five provinces, Davao Occidental had the highest rate of struggling readers at 18.5 percent, followed by Davao del Norte at 14.8 percent, Davao Oriental at 13.4 percent, Davao de Oro at 10.1 percent and Davao del Sur at 9.5 percent.

EDCOM 2 executive director Karol Mark Yee said the learning crisis built up over the years and called for immediate action on illiteracy, particularly among pupils in Grades 1 to 3. "Every child who continues to struggle with reading needs timely support," he said, warning that otherwise children may advance to the next grade without fully understanding their lessons.