UNICEF Warns of Learning Crisis in the Philippines

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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a stark warning about a "real and widespread learning crisis" in the Philippines. Recent findings reveal that a significant majority of students are underperforming in reading and mathematics.

UNICEF Education Chief, Akihiro Fushimi, highlighted data from a 2019 study indicating that 90% of Filipino Grade 5 students cannot read at their expected level, and 83% struggle with basic maths. He underscored that these gaps have widened in regions like the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where educational outcomes are even worse.

This crisis is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to prolonged school closures and limited access to alternative learning methods, particularly impacting disadvantaged communities. UNICEF estimates suggest Filipino children in Grade 4 have literacy and numeracy skills equivalent to Grade 1 or 2, with an even greater gap in BARMM.

Additionally, recurring natural disasters, intensified by climate change, have further disrupted learning. Fushimi pointed out that nearly all schools are susceptible to impacts from disasters such as hurricanes and floods, contributing to what he termed "learning poverty."

To address these issues, UNICEF urges the government to invest in foundational learning, beginning with early childhood education. Fushimi advocates for supporting children's health, nutrition, and education from as young as three to four years old to ensure they transition smoothly into formal education.

Nutritional Barriers to Education

Alongside educational concerns, the World Food Program (WFP) has highlighted the link between poor nutrition and academic performance. At least 1.7 million public school children in the Philippines are malnourished, impacting their ability to learn effectively.

WFP Deputy Country Director, Dipayan Bhattacharyya, noted that while existing school feeding programmes address undernutrition, they fail to tackle broader nutritional issues like micronutrient deficiencies, obesity, and overweight conditions. He stressed the importance of addressing deficiencies in iron, vitamins, and zinc, which affect both learning and long-term health.

Bhattacharyya called for a more comprehensive school feeding programme to address these issues, which could reduce future public health costs. He suggested choosing appropriate foods to alleviate malnutrition and urged a revision of Republic Act 11037, which guides current supplemental feeding programmes.

Both UNICEF and WFP are advocating for integrated solutions to improve educational outcomes, focusing on foundational learning investments and addressing chronic malnutrition as a barrier to progress.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from PhilStar 2025-06-18