10% of Grades 1-3 learners struggle to read – EDCOM 2

CEBU, Philippines — The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM2) reported that 10 percent of learners in Grades 1 to 3 remained struggling readers based on the End-of-School-Year (EOSY) 2025-2026 assessment, which covered at least 5,127,670 pupils.

Based on the EDCOM2 Early Childhood Dashboard, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) recorded the highest proportion of struggling readers at 25.5 percent, followed by SOCCSKSARGEN at 17.7 percent and the Zamboanga Peninsula at 14.7 percent.

The EDCOM2 Early Childhood Dashboard consolidates local data on child nutrition, early literacy and Child Development Center coverage to support targeted early childhood interventions.

Bicol ranked fourth, with 12 percent of learners classified as struggling readers, followed by Davao at 11.7 percent and MIMAROPA at 11.3 percent. The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the National Capital Region (NCR) recorded the lowest proportions, at 5.3 percent each.

Other regions reported the following rates: Negros Island Region (NIR) and Central Visayas, 10.4 percent each; Caraga, 10 percent; Ilocos, 9.4 percent; Northern Mindanao, 9.3 percent; Cagayan Valley, 8.6 percent; Western Visayas, 8.2 percent; Central Luzon, 7.9 percent; Eastern Visayas, 7.2 percent; and Calabarzon, 6.7 percent.

In Davao del Sur, 9.5 percent of learners were classified as struggling readers, while Davao City recorded 9.3 percent, EDCOM2 said.

Meanwhile, only 25 percent of senior high school (SHS) learners in Davao City were considered “independent readers,” based on the results of the SHS Learning Needs Assessment (LNA) for EOSY 2025-2026.

DepEd issues heat guidelines

On the other hand, Education Secretary Sonny Angara has issued comprehensive guidelines to prepare schools for the anticipated effects of Super El Niño, including extreme heat and water shortages.

Under Department of Education (DepEd) Memorandum No. 64, series of 2026, all physical and home-based academic activities must be suspended when temperatures reach 42 degrees Celsius or higher to protect learners and teachers.

"We cannot afford to wait until extreme heat hits before we act. Our plan this year is proactive, deliberate, and organized,” Angara said.

The memorandum aims to keep school environments safe, protect the health of learners and personnel, and ensure learning continues throughout the anticipated dry spell.

“We are making sure our schools are fully prepared to manage heat stress, water shortages, and health risks, protecting the safety and well-being of our learners and personnel without unnecessarily sacrificing precious classroom time,” Angara added.

Under the guidelines, physical classes will be suspended when temperatures reach 33°C to 41°C, with learners shifting to lighter home-based tasks and health check-ins.

Angara said the guidelines would help schools prepare for extreme weather conditions after the state weather bureau warned that Super El Niño could persist until mid-2027.

Regular face-to-face classes may continue with scheduled hydration breaks when the heat index remains below 27°C.

When the heat index reaches 27°C to 32°C, school heads may shorten in-person class hours or shift to hybrid or flexible home-based learning arrangements, Angara said.

"Every community experiences weather conditions differently. Through our 4H framework and daily, classroom-level monitoring, we are empowering our school heads with the flexibility to adjust hours or shift to modular learning only when local conditions genuinely require it,” he said.

The memorandum also allows teachers and learners to wear lightweight, breathable alternative uniforms or previously issued DepEd collared shirts, provided they maintain appropriate standards of decency.

Schools are also directed to assess the reliability of their water supply, establish safe drinking-water stations and use emergency procurement provisions to obtain water filtration kits when necessary.

Angara said schools may use their Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), Special Education Fund (SEF) allocations through local school boards, and Disaster Preparedness and Response Program (DPRP) funds to support preparedness measures. They may also use emergency procurement procedures under the New Government Procurement Act (Republic Act No. 12009).

DepEd said the policy took effect immediately and would remain in force until the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) officially declares the end of the 2026-2027 El Niño episode. — Philippine Star News Service/FPL (CEBU NEWS)