Reaching the Unreached: A Challenge for Filipino Educators

Abstract

The increased competitiveness and openness that result from globalization necessitate quality education for workforce viability; however, some children are denied this necessity. They face challenges in the global community as a result of inadequate educational opportunities. This deficit is readily apparent in various parts of the Philippines, thus this study aimed at determining the position of marginalized youth in terms of two components of education—functional literacy and numeracy skills—as benchmarks based on the current level of intellectual capacity in the social areas. It additionally investigated possible ways these children can contribute to the global community. The study blended quantitative and qualitative methods to provide rigor in triangulation. The findings revealed that respondents manifested basic academic skills typical of children with a formal education, and poverty is a major factor contributing to academic inadequacies.