Cocopea Concerned by FLEMMS Report

THE Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (Cocopea) echoes the deep concerns expressed by the public about the country’s education system following the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (Flemms) by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which revealed that around 18 million Filipino high school graduates are functionally illiterate. 

As a committed partner of the government in tackling various issues within our education system, Cocopea reaffirms its unwavering support for the Department of Education amidst this alarming data. This support is particularly significant as the DepEd embarks on its reform agenda aimed at enhancing literacy and learning recovery to learning outcomes across all levels of basic education.

Cocopea’s dedication to partnering with the government in addressing the learning crisis aligns with its overarching message during its “Elected: A Senatorial Forum for Change”, held last April 21, 2025 — that education must persist as a national priority. 

It is Cocopea’s belief that enhancing functional literacy necessitates more than merely promoting access to education; it also involves ensuring, as a national policy, that quality education thrives within the system.

Indeed, the PSA’s alarming findings serve as a timely reminder that there is no singular solution and approach to address the ongoing learning crisis. 

Cocopea, therefore, shall continue to advocate for collaboration among all education stakeholders as it stresses the necessity of implementing accountability mechanisms. These mechanisms should encompass not only the government, schools, and teachers but also involve learners and their parents in ensuring effective learning outcomes for Filipino students.