IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY AND NUMERACY TO LEARNERS

AMOR A. BAÑAL

Good foundations in education develop lifelong learning and full participation in society. It is important that one must have good fundamentals in education at an early age. Literacy and numeracy skills must be developed for learners to have easy grasps on the concepts of the different learning areas being taught in school.

Literacy means one can read, write, speak, and listen in a way that one can communicate effectively and make sense of the world. It is the foundation of development for children. Learning to read in the first years of primary school is critical for retention and success in future grades. Literacy helps an individual to enrich their lives but also develop their skills among themselves.

On the other hand, numeracy focuses on the knowledge and skills in numbers and problem-solving. It involves recognizing and understanding the importance of mathematics in their daily lives. Basic numeracy skills are the ability to understand the four fundamental operations in mathematics such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It also develops an individual to have logical thinking and reasoning in their everyday activities.

These two factors in learning should be given emphasis in the teaching-learning process. The literacy and numeracy of the learners are the key stages to succeed in their learning. Students need to meet the necessary requirements to seek out and in-depth understanding of the subjects and gain deeper understanding about the world.

Obtaining the level of literacy and numeracy can improve one’s life including social life, education, and career prospects.

It is vital that the overall development of a child centers the literacy and numeracy skills. It encourages learners to learn on their own and be enthusiastic to pursue their dreams in life.

If everyone is literate and numerate, the economy will strengthen and progress. When learners have high level practice of these skills, reliable results may follow like improvements in social life, education, and career prospects.

Effective literacy and numeracy skills open opportunities for education and even employment for individuals. These people will pull themselves out of poverty and underemployment. It also improves the standard of living of every Filipino family and have greater understanding of the world around them.

-oOoThe author is Teacher II of San Isidro Elementary School, Masantol North District