BUILDING AND ENHANCING NEW LITERACIES ACROSS THE CURRICULUM: Functional Literacy

Niño D. Estolas, M.Ed., LPT

Literacy means knowing how to read, write, and do math. But what does it really mean to read? It's not just about recognizing words; it's also about understanding what a text is saying. And when it comes to writing, it's more than just putting words together; it's about expressing ideas clearly. And math isn't just about basic arithmetic; it's also about understanding data, graphs, and managing money. These skills are important for making choices and doing well in everyday life.

Basically, just being able to read and write isn't the whole picture when it comes to being literate. It's also important to understand and use words and numbers in real-life situations, like discussing ideas and figuring things out. This broader idea of literacy is called functional literacy.

Functional Literacy

International Literacy Day 2023: Promoting literacy for a world in transition by UNESCO (2023).

Refers to the capacity of a person to engage in all those activities in which literacy is required for effective function of his or her group and community and also for enabling him or her to continue to use reading, writing and calculation for his or her own and the community’s development (UNESCO, 2020).

In the United States, the evaluation of functional literacy is conducted through the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL). NAAL is conducted periodically by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a division of the Institute of Education Sciences within the Department of Education. This assessment categorizes literacy into four levels.

In the Philippines, functional literacy is assessed through a survey known as FLEMMS (Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey). This survey is conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) every five years and addresses the three areas mentioned in its title. Individuals between the ages of 10 and 64 are randomly selected to participate in the survey. It involves a self-administered test, with reading and following instructions being key components in determining functional literacy levels.

Functional literacy encompasses more than just reading and writing abilities; it also involves proficiency in numeracy skills. These skills should be advanced enough to enable individuals to fully and effectively participate in typical activities in their daily lives that require the ability to communicate through written language. Individuals who have completed at least high school under the old curriculum for basic education, or have completed at least junior high school under the K-12 curriculum, are automatically considered functionally literate (PSA, 2019).

Four Classification of Literacy

Functional Literacy as the ability to understand, evaluate, and use written information to accomplish daily tasks and goals, including learning and development. This includes skills in reading, writing, and numeracy, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving abilities necessary for effective functioning in various contexts (CHED, 2021).

Below Basic Literacy: The ability to read and write simple words and numbers in basic documents.

Examples: Finding basic information on a chart; filling out a form; adding a dollar amount to a deposit slip.

Basic Literacy: The capability to comprehend short texts and perform simple tasks related to them.
Examples: Reading a brochure; using a TV guide; comparing ticket prices.

Intermediate Literacy: The skill to tackle complex tasks related to understanding longer texts.
Examples: Finding information in a reference book; summarizing a lengthy article; placing an order and figuring out the cost.
Proficient Literacy: The capacity to employ advanced critical thinking skills to grasp dense or intricate texts.
Examples: Analyzing different opinions in editorials; interpreting statistical graphs; determining the cost of food items per ounce.

What is the extent of functional literacy in the Philippines?

According to the 2019 FLEMMS, approximately 91.6 percent of Filipinos aged 10 to 64 demonstrated functional literacy (PSA, 2019).

In addition to cultivating functional literacy, the upper primary grades should also focus on fostering what are referred to as 21st Century Skills. These skills, when integrated with core subjects such as language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, contribute to the holistic development of students academically.

The 21st Century Skills are categorized into three groups:

Learning skills
Problem-solving, and
Additional skills acquired during high school years.

The Learning skills consist of four components:

Critical thinking
Creativity
Collaboration
Communication

Problem-solving encompasses four elements:

Reasoning
Analysis
Interpretation
Synthesizing information

Additional skills are honed during the later grades, particularly in high school. These include:

Higher Order Literacy (JHS):

Information
Media
Technology

Life skills (SHS):

Flexibility
Leadership
Initiative
Productivity
Social skills

Importance of Functional Literacy in Society

Literacy is the Answer by Trischitti, J. | TEDxACU (2017).

Functional literacy is crucial for the smooth functioning of our society. It involves developing essential skills like mathematics, literacy, and analytical thinking. Without proficient individuals in these areas, our communities, businesses, and governments would struggle to operate effectively. However, functional literacy goes beyond basic reading, writing, and arithmetic. It includes a range of literacies that are essential for building a functional society.

The article "The Importance of Functional Literacy to the Fourth Industrial Revolution," published by Regenesys Business School in 2020, highlights that there are various literacies that collectively contribute to the establishment of a functional society.

These are:

Civic Literacy involves understanding the functioning of government and the rights and duties of citizens and voters.
Computer Literacy refers to the capacity to operate computers, ranging from basic tasks like email and word processing to more advanced skills such as programming.
Additionally, there are digital literacy, information literacy, and data literacy skills to consider.
Financial Literacy entails managing finances and making informed decisions about money.
Health Literacy involves making informed choices about diet, exercise, and other factors affecting physical and mental health.
Legal Literacy encompasses the ability to interpret laws, contracts, and legal procedures.
Media Literacy enables individuals to access, assess, and create messages across various media platforms, promoting critical thinking and resistance to propaganda.
Scientific Literacy enables individuals to support or challenge existing beliefs or hypotheses with factual evidence.

Functional literacy is critically important in both society and the nation as a whole for several reasons:

Economic development: Functional literacy is essential for individuals to participate in the workforce, acquire skills, and contribute to economic growth. It enables people to access higher-paying jobs, start businesses, and engage in entrepreneurship.
Social cohesion: Functional literacy fosters communication and understanding among individuals from diverse backgrounds. It promotes social cohesion by enabling people to engage in meaningful interactions, collaborate on community projects, and participate in civic activities.
Democratic participation: In a democracy, functional literacy is vital for citizens to understand their rights and responsibilities, make informed decisions, and participate actively in the democratic process. It enables people to engage in voting, advocacy, and community organizing.
Health and well-being: Functional literacy is linked to better health outcomes as it enables individuals to access and understand health information, make informed choices about healthcare, and engage in preventive measures. It also empowers people to advocate for their own health needs.
Lifelong learning: Functional literacy lays the foundation for lifelong learning and personal development. It enables individuals to continue acquiring new knowledge and skills throughout their lives, adapt to changing circumstances, and pursue further education and training opportunities.

Overall, functional literacy is crucial for individual empowerment, social progress, and national development. It serves as a cornerstone for building strong, resilient, and inclusive societies.

References:

Cocchiarella, C. (2018). What is functional literacy, and why does our high-tech society need it? https://mindfultechnics.com/what-is-functional-literacy/
CHED. (2021). Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Competencies of Language and Communication Students. https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1018&context=jmle-preprints
FEU PUBLIC POLICY CENTER. (2021). Developing Functional Literacy and 21st Century Skills. https://publicpolicy.feu.org.ph/news/developing-functional-literacy-and-21st-century-skills/#:~:text=Functional%20literacy%20is%20measured%20by,of%20written%20and%20verbal%20instructions.
PSA. (2019). TECHNICAL NOTES 2019 FUNCTIONAL LITERACY, EDUCATION AND MASS MEDIA SURVEY. https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/dhsd/2022-12/TECHNICAL-NOTES-FLEMMS-2019_approved_1.pdf
Regenesys Business School. (2020). The Importance of Functional Literacy to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. https://www.regenesys.net/reginsights/the-importance-of-functional-literacy#:~:text=Functional%20literacy%20is%20about%20developing,communities%2C%20businesses%2C%20or%20governments.
Trischitti, J. | TEDxACU (2017). Literacy is the Answer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-h-BhcV7DM
UNESCO. (2020). Functional Literacy. https://uis.unesco.org/en/glossary-term/functional-literacy
UNESCO. (2023). International Literacy Day 2023: Promoting literacy for a world in transition by UNESCO. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB6ngFqh0V0
Whitehurst, R. (2006). The National Assessment of Adult Literacy: Health Literacy Results. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44260/#:~:text=About%20the%20National%20Assessment%20of,Federal%20prisons%20across%20the%20country.