Nearly 11 million children, youth not in school – PSA

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly 11 million children and young Filipinos are not attending formal school, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Of the 42.8 million household population aged five to 24 years old, the PSA said that 10.7 million or 25 percent are out-of-school children and youth (OSCY).

The data is based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing.

Of the 10.7 million OSCYs, more than half or 51.3 percent are males, while 48.7 percent are females.

In terms of age, majority or 68.5 percent of OSCYs are in the 20-24-year-old age group.

The 15 to 19-year-old age group is next with 15.6 percent of OSCYs, followed by the five to nine-year-old age group with 12.3 percent.

The 10 to 14-year-old age group accounts for 3.7 percent of OSCYs.

Meanwhile, 32.07 million of the population aged five to 24 years old are attending school.

Of the firgure, 51.4 percent are males, while 48.6 percent are females.

When it comes to school attendance, the PSA said the Bicol Region has the highest percentage at 78.8 percent.

On the other hand, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has the lowest school attendance percentage at 64.5 percent.