Illiteracy Rate in the Philippines free essay sample

The trend today that people have to cope with is global competition. In a competitive world, people are expected to keep abreast with the latest advancements. It is now survival of the fittest, in which the fittest are mostly he literates, especially those who have attained a high degree of education. Literates tend to have far greater chances of achieving much compared to illiterates. An illiterate man lacks opportunity to apply for higher paid jobs because he can never compete with applicants who are literate. Most of the time, illiterates are unemployed, they may resort to scavenging/mendicancy or may even rob, kidnap for ransom, or holdup just to meet their basic needs. Illiteracy rates are highest among developing countries. In contrast, the illiteracy rate in developed countries is only a few percent. However, it is important to note that literacy rates vary widely from country to country and after directly proportionate to a country’s wealth or urbanization level, although many other factors play a determining role. Illiteracy rates is an important factor in a country’s or a region’s â€Å"human capital†. Gap with the Literates In a society where social status is a determining factor in the socialization of people, the poor people who are actually illiterate develop an inferiority complex in mingling with wealthy people. Low achievement, low educational background, limited knowledge, and limited first-hand experience with technologies hamper the social development of the illiterates especially if they are too conscious of dealing with people who are richer, more knowledgeable, more experienced, more traveled and have greater achievements than they have. Literates may also build a gap from them from fear of becoming the instrument of the illiterates resorting to crime because of being â€Å"kapit sa patalim†. Because of the big difference they have in terms of possessions and social influence, literates may feel superior to illiterates. This gap between the literates and illiterates usually happens to persons who are in the remote areas. Remote places that have no access to schools tend to have this gap in the society. Object of Deception or Instrument of Deception Lacking experience and knowledge, illiterates tend to be gullible and are vulnerable to being abused. They are usually the victims of injustice because they do not really know how to fight for their rights. To exercise their rights to vote, they still have to ask others to write for them during elections. Those whom they ask to write for them may not write the true choice of the illiterate who could hardly make both ends meet and who are so desperate in earning money may reach a point of selling their votes to politicians. It would be worse if their votes end up with bad leaders who will not do any good for our country. If candidates resort to vote buying, they may resort to more illegalities and malpractices in the government. If they are not trustworthy even before they are elected, how much more when they are elected? This is one of many cases when illiterate become instruments of politicians’ deception. Having no foresight, they may not realize that by selling their votes, they are already selling their government to these politicians who will only gain for their personal interests. For this, they are branded as the object of politicians’ deception. With an empty stomach, a poor person exchanges his integrity for votes, and politicians always know whom they could turn to in winning the race in an instant. It is sad to say that despite the Philippines’ having a high literacy rate, many Filipinos are still easily convinced and deceived by politicians who engage in vote buying. Object of deception and instrument of deception is a result of illiteracy because some would rather work at an early age to earn money than to go to school. When these illiterates are used to have money, they are being easily deceived, too. Prejudice with Government Services Having low income and little connection or influence with those who have good position in the government, the illiterates are deprived of the best services in the hospital, food establishments, malls, and the like. Many poor people die in hospitals even before the hospital have treated or even checked on them, because they have been asked for down payment, which the poor could not give. Because of fear of the hospital personnel of the poors’  not being able to pay, they implement the â€Å"Down Payment First, Before Treatment† procedure. Even in fast food chains, malls, and other establishments, poor people experience subtle injustice from sellers/sales ladies/waiters when they are not given the same service on the rich customers. When this happens, those persons might not able to exercise their rights to go to school for varied reasons. Turning Reliabilities into Assets Based on the mentioned disadvantages of being an illiterate, we can say that in the long run, illiterates become liabilities in a country for not being o productive. Having unproductive people impedes the progress of a country, thus making illiteracy breed poverty. Government officials should seriously address the problem of illiteracy, so that instead of creating liabilities, they create assets who will make the country fully developed. As much as possible, the government should not create literates (who just know how to read and write) but college graduates as well, who are equipped with values, integrity, and concern for the welfare of the country. This is an important consideration in competing in the global world. But the concern of the government does not in producing more graduates. Creating more jobs so that graduates will be able to apply what they learned, should be a priority by the government. CONCLUSION Based from the study conducted, there are many possible factors of illiteracy in the Philippines. Poor families can’t afford to send their children to school. Some people in very remote places have no access to schools, books, learning materials or teachers. Some would rather work at an early age than to go to school. Some parents too, don’t want to send their children to school so that they (the children) would work instead. It is a disgrace to have any literacy problems. Therefore, teachers, schools, the system, the politicians, the government officials, and above all else the parents have a great role to eradicate illiteracy. Every individual has the right to go to school. But foremost, parents should have a positive attitude toward education.