September 08, 2006
Can you read this blog post? Lucky you! That means you're better off than "nearly 3 million Filipinos" lacking even the most basic literacy skills (that eye-opening number courtesy of the Philippine Information Agency).
After that sobering piece of info, here's the (relatively) good news -- the National Statistical Coordination Board reports that 93.4% of Filipinos are capable of simple literacy. That means they're able to read and write a basic message (presumably in complete sentences, but I guess SMS/txt msg short-hand counts too, who knows?) Meanwhile, 84% of Filipinos are functionally literate, meaning they can do the same, plus some skills involving numbers. They also understand the point of a message (the why, in addition to the what).
Despite these reassuring digits, UNICEF has rightly sounded the alarm about the sheer number of Filipina women who lack these fundamental skills. This is a serious problem, especially in rural areas, where birth rates are higher. Now, for just a moment, let's put aside the debate about the relative merits and problems of unchecked baby-making (for whatever reason). If we agree that a mother should be able to decide how many kids she wants to have, then one basic fact remains: a literate mother is a more well-informed, self-sufficient mother.
This is not meant to be a dis against oral modes of communication, or child-rearing with the help of neighbors and relatives. The bottom line is that a literate mother is able to reach more independent decisions about childcare matters that involve printed texts: medicine labels, food packaging, written instructions, their children's homework... the list goes on, really. In fact, English thinktank The Literacy Trust makes the bold claim that "in the Philippines, a mother's primary education reduces by half the risk of child mortality".
That's why UNICEF Philippines has set up the Mothers Literacy Project to assist in the adult education of mothers in economically depressed areas:
But perhaps the greatest challenge is to keep these efforts going, once the designated UN funds have run out, long after the dutiful, well-meaning trainers pack up their bags and head for the city, or the next small town in need of child-rearing expertise.
Literacy is not something you just achieve, like a high score in a video game. Sure, there are benchmarks and measurable levels of literacy. But at the risk of waxing pilosopo, I'd say that literacy is a process. It needs to be maintained, and kept in practice, for it to really matter. And that means the volunteers who benefit from these programs should have the will and resources to pass on their knowledge. In this case, only one out of two would be very bad indeed.
Oh yeah, one more thing... Happy World Literacy Day! My own (petty burgis) wishes for the day: more second-hand bookstores in Metro Manila; lower prices for import titles, especially geeky cultural studies books; plus a visit and meet-and-greet session with hott journalist/social scientist Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point, Blink). Squee! ^__^
Tags: CEDAW, motherhood, education, literacy
After that sobering piece of info, here's the (relatively) good news -- the National Statistical Coordination Board reports that 93.4% of Filipinos are capable of simple literacy. That means they're able to read and write a basic message (presumably in complete sentences, but I guess SMS/txt msg short-hand counts too, who knows?) Meanwhile, 84% of Filipinos are functionally literate, meaning they can do the same, plus some skills involving numbers. They also understand the point of a message (the why, in addition to the what).
Despite these reassuring digits, UNICEF has rightly sounded the alarm about the sheer number of Filipina women who lack these fundamental skills. This is a serious problem, especially in rural areas, where birth rates are higher. Now, for just a moment, let's put aside the debate about the relative merits and problems of unchecked baby-making (for whatever reason). If we agree that a mother should be able to decide how many kids she wants to have, then one basic fact remains: a literate mother is a more well-informed, self-sufficient mother.
This is not meant to be a dis against oral modes of communication, or child-rearing with the help of neighbors and relatives. The bottom line is that a literate mother is able to reach more independent decisions about childcare matters that involve printed texts: medicine labels, food packaging, written instructions, their children's homework... the list goes on, really. In fact, English thinktank The Literacy Trust makes the bold claim that "in the Philippines, a mother's primary education reduces by half the risk of child mortality".
That's why UNICEF Philippines has set up the Mothers Literacy Project to assist in the adult education of mothers in economically depressed areas:
The Mothers Literacy Project provides mothers with the essential knowledge and skills for proper child rearing. Working with local government units, UNICEF funds the training of volunteers who become literacy teachers. These volunteers are from the community itself.No doubt, projects like this serve as hands-on ways to support educated motherhood, a principle enshrined in CEDAW. In particular, Article 10 calls for "access to programmes of continuing education, including adult and functional literacy programmes", and "access to specific educational information to help to ensure the health and well-being of families".
More than just the ABC's and the 123's. These mothers learn about raising children.
But perhaps the greatest challenge is to keep these efforts going, once the designated UN funds have run out, long after the dutiful, well-meaning trainers pack up their bags and head for the city, or the next small town in need of child-rearing expertise.
Literacy is not something you just achieve, like a high score in a video game. Sure, there are benchmarks and measurable levels of literacy. But at the risk of waxing pilosopo, I'd say that literacy is a process. It needs to be maintained, and kept in practice, for it to really matter. And that means the volunteers who benefit from these programs should have the will and resources to pass on their knowledge. In this case, only one out of two would be very bad indeed.
Oh yeah, one more thing... Happy World Literacy Day! My own (petty burgis) wishes for the day: more second-hand bookstores in Metro Manila; lower prices for import titles, especially geeky cultural studies books; plus a visit and meet-and-greet session with hott journalist/social scientist Malcolm Gladwell (The Tipping Point, Blink). Squee! ^__^
Tags: CEDAW, motherhood, education, literacy
Labels: education, motherhood, parenting
