Far Eastern University High School

S.Y. 2017-2018

GROUP 2 GRADE 11 – HUMSS 4

ILLITERACY OF THE FILIPINO YOUTH CONNECTED TO POVERTY: NOT

A FACT

Research Questions

1. The government is giving everyone an opportunity to study for free in public

schools. With this statement given, why do some people still refuse to take

advantage of this?

2. Can education put a stop to poverty cycle?

3. We’ve heard testimonies about poor people reaching success through education, if

it seemed possible for them and they did it, why do others can’t?

Prepared by:
Bautista, Francesca Trixie T.
Bautista, Maria Mikaela M.
Cruz, Rinoa P.
Deang, Karl Benjie L.
Dela Cruz, Nikki O.
Dela Vega, Niel Keanne C.
Dumlao, Mary Grace P.
Research Questions

4. The government is giving everyone an opportunity to study for free in public

schools. With this statement given, why do some people still refuse to take

advantage of this?

5. Can education put a stop to poverty cycle?

6. We’ve heard testimonies about poor people reaching success through education, if

it seemed possible for them and they did it, why do others can’t?

I. Introduction

The Philippines encounter countless of problems and issues every day. Problems

like corruption, failed justice system, law inequality, gender discrimination, extra judicial

killings, war on drugs, and transport strikes are what we often read in newspapers, watch

in televisions, and hear in radio stations. We seldom hear about poverty and illiteracy

which we can also consider issues that our government today should pay attention to.

Poverty is one of the leading problems the Filipino people encounter. In fact,

according to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Philippines’ estimated poverty

incidence rate is 21.6%. Poverty does not just tackle about the lack of money or

resources in order to provide each other’s needs. There are four types of poverty: absolute

poverty, relative poverty, situational poverty, and generational poverty. We will be

paying more attention to absolute poverty which is defined as lack of basic food, water,

and other basic needs.

 Poverty is also linked to lack of knowledge and information that may also be

indirectly referred to as illiteracy. What is illiteracy?

There are three types of illiteracy: a) functional illiteracy – the inability to read

and write; b) cultural illiteracy – an inability to comprehend and fully participate in a

certain culture; and c) moral illiteracy – inability to distinguish right from wrong.

In this study, we will be focusing in illiteracy and its relation to poverty.

A. Main Argument

In this paper, we shall discuss that poverty is indeed not a hindrance in

achieving academic success using the accompaniment of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s

philosophy, “Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains.”

B. Research Questions

1. The government is giving everyone an opportunity to study for free in public

schools. With this statement given, why do some people still refuse to take

advantage of this?

2. Can education put a stop to poverty cycle?

3. We’ve heard testimonies about poor people reaching success through

education, if it seemed possible for them and they did it, why do others can’t?

C. Related Studies
 In this research, we have included related and relevant topics of local and foreign

researchers and writers that are significant to the study. We will be showing different

articles as well as a brief overlook of the literature related to our topic. Everything is

written and is arranged according to the following topics:

● Illiteracy As The Main Cause of Poverty

● The Impact of Poverty on the Readiness of Children in School

● Poverty As A Hindrance to A Child’s Mental Health and Threat to Education

● Poverty, Hunger Prevent Filipino Kids From Getting Basic Education

● Is Poverty the Cause of Illiteracy?

1) Illiteracy As The Main Cause of Poverty

Poverty and illiteracy are somehow connected together. Poverty and

illiteracy are the number one causes of child labour, or children ages eighteen

and below working regularly in order to provide for their family members.

Illiterate people are not aware with the term family planning, thus, leads to

uncontrolled birth, higher child death or child mortality rate and eventually,

poverty. Some religious parents do not allow girls to be educated except

religious education. The state of being illiterate causes lack of enough and any

education. Illiteracy is the main cause of poverty.

2) The Impact of Poverty on the Readiness of Children In School

Poverty remains a fact in our lives even in countries with successful

economic background. In particular, the poverty of our children has been a

 continuous concern. A child’s readiness in school reflects a child’s ability to

triumph when it comes to both academic and social aspects inside the school.

A child’s readiness requires physical well-being, emotional health and

intelligence, and a positive point of view to new experiences. A child’s home

plays a role when it comes to school readiness. Children from low-income

families often do not learn the social skills needed for them to be prepared for

school.

3) Poverty As Hindrance to A Child’s Mental Health and Threat to

Education

According to National Center for Children in Poverty, poverty can hinder

a child’s physical and mental health as well as his ability and motivation in

learning. Poverty, being considered the greatest hindrance to education,

directly impacts the educational experience for both students and teachers.

4) Poverty Prevents Filipino Kids From Getting Basic Education

Poverty is the main reason why fewer children are enrolling in schools

despite the increasing budget of the government for education. Marian, a

twelve-year-old girl, is one of the millions of Filipino children whose

education has taken a backseat due to poverty. The child is supposed to be in

the sixth-grade but she’s currently a Grade 1 pupil, learning basic language

lessons instead of preparing for junior high school. (Sisante, 2008)

5) Is Poverty the Cause of Illiteracy?

 People from families with low income would not have the enough money

to sustain and afford education for their children that is why they just decide

to keep their children out of school. This thinking would lead to conclusion

that widespread poverty would have widespread illiteracy and even

widespread child labour. But there are two sides of the argument made for this

point. First, education or literacy is a right. It is the obligation of the

government to educate the citizens of the state. Second, some consider literacy

as a threat to the people with such high ranking like government officials

because of the possibilities of revolution.

II. Supporting Arguments

A. First Argument/First Research Question

Question: The government is giving everyone an opportunity to study for free in public

schools. With this statement given, why do some people still refuse to take advantage of

this?

In accordance to Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s philosophy “Man is born free, yet

everywhere he is in chains,” it states that everyone is free the moment they are born but

there are some circumstances that keep them from doing something, putting everyone in

chains even though they’re actually granted with freedom.

In connection to the statement/question given above, every person of every social

class, regardless if he/she is rich or poor are granted access to free education yet the poor
still refuse to grab the opportunity to be educated because of the hindrances that are

holding them back.

For example, a child refuses to study even in a public school because of his/her

parents’ belief that working and earning money in order to provide for the family is more

important that going to school. Another example is that whenever a child decided not to

continue his education because of the long distance he/she walks from home to school.

Unfortunate people are free and are given chances to educate themselves but there are

invisible chains that are restricting them in doing so. Those invisible chains may be

excuses, or problems that hinder them.

a. Supporting Argument

Society might be a harmful influence, according to Rousseau.

“Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains.” We can consider the society as a

chain that stops the poor people from educating themselves. The judgment of the society

plays a big role in corrupting the minds of the poor people.

B. Second Argument/Second Research Question

Question: Can education put a stop to poverty cycle?

Yes. Education can put a stop to poverty cycle. If we take a look at this in a situation

wherein all the people are properly educated and armed with all the right educational

attainments, we can create an environment that opens the doors to different opportunities.

Education benefits our health. If we are properly educated, it will enhance our knowledge
about living a healthy lifestyle. Education prepares people for work. Working helps in

earning income that contributes to the country’s economic growth and eventually, gets

you out of the poverty trap.

b. Supporting Argument

“How can we educate ourselves by going to school when we are already poor? We have

no money to spend for it. We will just spend the money we have left for food. Studying

cannot feed us.”

We only hear this statement from poor people. The chains that are keeping them from

escaping the trap of poverty are their excuses. Men are free. We are free. Yet

unfortunately, we are chaining ourselves from our own excuses. We do not open our

minds to possibilities. Studying cannot feed us? False. Studying opens opportunities in

the workforce. Workforce makes us earn money. We can use the money to buy food that

we feed ourselves onwards.

C. Third Argument/Third Research Question

Question: We’ve heard testimonies about poor people reaching success through

education, if it seemed possible for them and they did it, why do others can’t?

Poor people and rich people have different thinking and different culture. Rich

people or even people in the middle class dream and plan for their futures. Agreed, poor

people dream, too. The difference is that poor people seldom put action to it. Rich people
dream and plan for their future, they make it happen by working hard and saving money.

Poor people, unfortunately, just dream. They treat time differently; they live by the

moment and do not plan ahead. They do not save their hard-earned money and spend it

on useless things like vices.

But, we do not generalize poor people like that. Happily, some poor people are

able to escape the poverty trap through education. How? They thought like rich people

who dreamed and planned for their future and made things happen. Dreaming, imagining,

or believing will never get you anywhere unless you put an action to it. Successful people

did not just dream; they had determination while striving for success.

That was the trait some poor people lack – determination. People without

determination will remain on their level and never progress. Poverty is definitely not the

reason why people are lacking in proper education, lack of determination is. Poor people

always want things instantly, like how they would like money to come to them. In result,

they beg for money, for food, for sympathy. They are lacking in determination when it

comes to looking for jobs and, even when it comes to educating themselves poor people

seem to give up easily. They spend their money on gambling or betting on lottery because

they want to be rich in an instant.

c. Supporting Argument

“Over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.”

This philosophical thinking from John Stuart Mill that suggests that individuals

are free to do whatever gives them pleasure, even if the deed causes harm to them. But,
the individuals are not free to cause harm to someone else. In relation to poverty,

education and, illiteracy, every person or individual is given a freedom to do whatever

they want, and whatever will cause their happiness. We, individuals, are given the

freedom to do whatever gives us the pleasure and satisfaction. Poor people who decided

not to educate themselves; they used their freedom and did what gave them the pleasure

and satisfaction. Poor people often think that studying is irrelevant and difficult, thinking

that they will reach nothing if they studied instead of working. They did what gave them

comfort; they slacked and stayed at home, begged for food and money, roaming the

streets, instead of doing something productive.

III. Synthesis

“Illiteracy of the Filipino Youth Connected to Poverty: Not a Fact” is a

statement that actually suggests that poverty is definitely not the cause of illiteracy.

Literacy plays an important role to a man’s life. Imagine how he can survive without

being able to read and write. How can a man read a medical prescription without reading

ability?

One of the researchers’ goals is to prove the vital importance of education to

the Filipino youth. Poverty is not the cause of illiteracy. It is never a hindrance. We, and

our decisions, are the hindrances to literacy. Individuals act according to their interest.

People in general, do what they want and what gives them comfort, happiness, and

satisfaction. But, what most individuals do not know is that every belief and action of

ours makes all the difference.

 Example, a man is trying to cross the road and has two choices. First, is to wait

for the vehicles to stop before crossing the road. And second, is to cross the road without

waiting for the vehicles to stop. If he believed that waiting for the vehicles to stop before

crossing the road and acted upon it, the man would be safe and can continue on his

journey. If the man just crossed the road continuously without waiting for the vehicles to

stop, there is a possibility that the man will have an injury or worst, die.

In connection to the study, every belief and action contributes to the

difference. Imagine Philippines if all of the poor people took advantage of the free

education in public schools offered by the State and believed that they will achieve

something from it and worked hard with determination, many years from now, the

poverty incidence in the Philippines would lessen.