BUTUAN CITY – Agusan del Sur recorded the highest basic literacy rate in the Caraga region, with 91.2 percent of its population aged 5 and above able to read, write, and perform simple arithmetic, according to the 2024 Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Regionwide, about 87.9 percent — or roughly 2.24 million out of 2.55 million Caraganons aged 5 and above — were found to be basically literate.
In contrast, Agusan del Norte had the lowest basic literacy rate in the region at 84.4 percent.
The PSA also reported a gender gap in literacy: females posted a higher basic literacy rate (89.6%) compared to males (86.2%).
Functional Literacy Still Below National Goals
In terms of functional literacy, which measures the ability to not just read and write but also to comprehend and apply information, the region registered a rate of 63.1 percent among individuals aged 10 to 64 years old. This translates to around 1.31 million people out of an estimated 2.07 million in the region who possess functional literacy.
Butuan City had the highest functional literacy rate in Caraga at 73.0 percent, while Agusan del Norte again ranked lowest at 55.7 percent.
Females continued to outperform males in functional literacy, with rates of 67.0 percent and 59.5 percent, respectively.
Survey Background
The 2024 FLEMMS, conducted by the PSA, assesses both basic and functional literacy nationwide. This year’s survey uses revised definitions and methodologies approved through PSA Board Resolution No. 13, Series of 2024.
Basic literacy refers to a person’s ability to read, write, and perform basic mathematical operations. Functional literacy goes further, measuring the capacity to understand and apply written information in daily life.
