Reading, one of the indicators of the literacy of a nation, is falling into ignominy. The youth of today have a heyday with television (also called the idiot box… now you know why), radio, and computers. This has steered not only the youth but even adults away from the joys of reading; to the extent that some have reverted to illiteracy. A few decades ago, parents kept a strict watch on their children to prevent them from becoming addicted to comics – the bane of school assignments. With comics, the message is communicated without resorting to reading long group of words. Just right for semi-literate people; but even then, literate students prefer comics to books, especially those who are lazy. Now, comics are passé, and have been replaced by computer games.

Why is it important to know how to read? Everything that makes the world move efficiently hinges on the reading ability of the population – the country’s constitution, laws and regulations of government, traffic rules, and many more. Printed matter such as books, newspapers, and magazines serve as repository of a nation’s developing culture. Even signs, billboards, and flyers disseminate messages that can make life better organized.

Focusing on out-of-school youth

However, despite these very simple signs, we still have a lot of accidents. No parking signs, do not enter signs, no overtaking signs, are easily violated due perhaps to the drivers’ inability to read. You may have experienced riding in a jeepney where “no smoking” is conspicuously pasted, but the driver himself is smoking. All these stem from the fact that the person to whom the sign is directed do not know how to read. Shouldn’t the Land Transportation Office check on the reading and comprehension of the drivers to whom they give licenses? Many lives will surely be saved if the LTO check on drivers’ knowledge of traffic rules and regulations more frequently.

One of the industries that have been affected by the low reading ability of the population is the newspaper industry. Newspapers are closing shop or are limiting its circulation. Maybe it’s the high cost of printing, but it is no longer the primary bearer of news. Even libraries are becoming obsolete. The ones still present have very few patrons. Schools of learning should drum up the need for research so that the students will not remain stagnant in their studies. They should look at discoveries, inventions, events, so that they can form a better future. Fortunately, libraries are being turned into depositories of resource materials so that books and printed materials are now available in electronic form or what is popularly called e-copies for reading.

Changing lives with education

In this region, reading has been confusing for many of its Muslim population. The Madraza teachings are based on materials using the Arabic script. As a result, those educated in the Madraza are considered illiterate in the formal system. This is one area that must be looked into by the Transition Commission of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement. If there is an intention to bring into the mainstream the Madrasahs operating in the rural areas, a decision must be made if reading materials in Arabic should be made available, otherwise stick to English in upgrading literacy. What is important is that support should be given to maintain the reading ability of the population – be it in Arabic, Filipino, or English.

Eva Kimpo-Tan is the editor-in-chief of The Mindanao Cross, the oldest Catholic weekly in the southern Philippines.