Manila, July 5: The literacy rate in the Philippines increased to 97 per cent, improving by 1.2 percentage point in the last five years, according to new government data. Citing the survey results of the 2020 Census of Population and Housing, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said among 97.6 million Filipinos above five years old, 94.6 million were literate, or can read and write a simple message in any language or dialect, reports Xinhua news agency. Philippines Post Office Fire Video: Major Blaze Destroys Historic 100-Year-Old Mail Office Building in Manila.

The Metro Manila area posted the highest literacy rate at 98.9 per cent, while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanaohad the lowest rate at 86.4 per cent. The data also showed that the literacy rate in 2020 was slightly higher among females, at 97.1 per cent, than among males at 96.8 per cent, echoing the same trend observed in 2015. Philippines Ferry Fire: At Least 12 People Killed, Seven Missing After Passenger Ferry Catches Fire in Basilan.

According to the data, about one in every six college graduates has a degree in education science, the most popular course among college graduates. Males prefer management and administration courses, while females opt for education science courses. More females than males pursue post-baccalaureate education.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 05, 2023 03:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).