The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in the Philippines recorded the highest functional literacy rate at 81 percent in 2024. This was followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) at approximately 80 percent. Meanwhile, the average functional literacy in the country was at 70.8 percent.

Goal 4Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for allTarget 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomesIndicator 4.1.1: Proportion of children and young people (a) in grades 2/3; (b) at the end of primary; and (c) at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in (i) reading and (ii) mathematics, by sexSE_TOT_PRFL: Proportion of children and young people achieving a minimum proficiency level in reading and mathematics (%)Indicator 4.1.2: Completion rate (primary education, lower secondary education, upper secondary education)SE_TOT_CPLR: Completion rate, by sex, location, wealth quintile and education level (%)Target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary educationIndicator 4.2.1: Proportion of children aged 24-59 months who are developmentally on track in health, learning and psychosocial well-being, by sexiSE_DEV_ONTRK: Proportion of children aged 36−59 months who are developmentally on track in at least three of the following domains: literacy-numeracy, physical development, social-emotional development, and learning (% of children aged 36-59 months)Indicator 4.2.2: Participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age), by sexSE_PRE_PARTN: Participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age), by sex (%)Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including universityIndicator 4.3.1: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, by sexSE_ADT_EDUCTRN: Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training, by sex (%)Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurshipIndicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skillSE_ADT_ACTS: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by sex and type of skill (%)Target 4.5: By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situationsIndicator 4.5.1: Parity indices (female/male, rural/urban, bottom/top wealth quintile and others such as disability status, indigenous peoples and conflict-affected, as data become available) for all education indicators on this list that can be disaggregatedSE_GPI_PTNPRE: Gender parity index for participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age), (ratio)SE_GPI_TCAQ: Gender parity index of trained teachers, by education level (ratio)SE_GPI_PART: Gender parity index for participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training (ratio)SE_GPI_ICTS: Gender parity index for youth/adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill (ratio)SE_IMP_FPOF: Immigration status parity index for achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional skills, by numeracy/literacy skills (ratio)SE_NAP_ACHI: Native parity index for achievement (ratio)SE_LGP_ACHI: Language test parity index for achievement (ratio)SE_TOT_GPI: Gender parity index for achievement (ratio)SE_TOT_SESPI: Low to high socio-economic parity status index for achievement (ratio)SE_TOT_RUPI: Rural to urban parity index for achievement (ratio)SE_ALP_CPLR: Adjusted location parity index for completion rate, by sex, location, wealth quintile and education levelSE_AWP_CPRA: Adjusted wealth parity index for completion rate, by sex, location, wealth quintile and education levelSE_AGP_CPRA: Adjusted gender parity index for completion rate, by sex, location, wealth quintile and education levelTarget 4.6: By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracyIndicator 4.6.1: Proportion of population in a given age group achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills, by sexSE_ADT_FUNS: Proportion of population achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional skills, by sex, age and type of skill (%)Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable developmentIndicator 4.7.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessmentTarget 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for allIndicator 4.a.1: Proportion of schools offering basic services, by type of serviceSE_ACS_CMPTR: Schools with access to computers for pedagogical purposes, by education level (%)SE_ACS_H2O: Schools with access to basic drinking water, by education level (%)SE_ACS_ELECT: Schools with access to electricity, by education level (%)SE_ACC_HNDWSH: Schools with basic handwashing facilities, by education level (%)SE_ACS_INTNT: Schools with access to the internet for pedagogical purposes, by education level (%)SE_ACS_SANIT: Schools with access to access to single-sex basic sanitation, by education level (%)SE_INF_DSBL: Proportion of schools with access to adapted infrastructure and materials for students with disabilities, by education level (%)Target 4.b: By 2020, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countriesIndicator 4.b.1: Volume of official development assistance flows for scholarships by sector and type of studyDC_TOF_SCHIPSL: Total official flows for scholarships, by recipient countries (millions of constant 2018 United States dollars)Target 4.c: By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing StatesIndicator 4.c.1: Proportion of teachers with the minimum required qualifications, by education leveliSE_TRA_GRDL: Proportion of teachers who have received at least the minimum organized teacher training (e.g. pedagogical training) pre-service or in-service required for teaching at the relevant level in a given country, by sex and education level (%)

Goal 4Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for allTarget 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomesIndicator 4.1.1: Proportion of children and young people (a) in grades 2/3; (b) at the end of primary; and (c) at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in (i) reading and (ii) mathematics, by sexSE_TOT_PRFL: Proportion of children and young people achieving a minimum proficiency level in reading and mathematics (%)Indicator 4.1.2: Completion rate (primary education, lower secondary education, upper secondary education)SE_TOT_CPLR: Completion rate, by sex, location, wealth quintile and education level (%)Target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary educationIndicator 4.2.1: Proportion of children aged 24-59 months who are developmentally on track in health, learning and psychosocial well-being, by sexiSE_DEV_ONTRK: Proportion of children aged 36−59 months who are developmentally on track in at least three of the following domains: literacy-numeracy, physical development, social-emotional development, and learning (% of children aged 36-59 months)Indicator 4.2.2: Participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age), by sexSE_PRE_PARTN: Participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age), by sex (%)Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including universityIndicator 4.3.1: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, by sexSE_ADT_EDUCTRN: Participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training, by sex (%)Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurshipIndicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skillSE_ADT_ACTS: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by sex and type of skill (%)Target 4.5: By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situationsIndicator 4.5.1: Parity indices (female/male, rural/urban, bottom/top wealth quintile and others such as disability status, indigenous peoples and conflict-affected, as data become available) for all education indicators on this list that can be disaggregatedSE_GPI_PTNPRE: Gender parity index for participation rate in organized learning (one year before the official primary entry age), (ratio)SE_GPI_TCAQ: Gender parity index of trained teachers, by education level (ratio)SE_GPI_PART: Gender parity index for participation rate in formal and non-formal education and training (ratio)SE_GPI_ICTS: Gender parity index for youth/adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill (ratio)SE_IMP_FPOF: Immigration status parity index for achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional skills, by numeracy/literacy skills (ratio)SE_NAP_ACHI: Native parity index for achievement (ratio)SE_LGP_ACHI: Language test parity index for achievement (ratio)SE_TOT_GPI: Gender parity index for achievement (ratio)SE_TOT_SESPI: Low to high socio-economic parity status index for achievement (ratio)SE_TOT_RUPI: Rural to urban parity index for achievement (ratio)SE_ALP_CPLR: Adjusted location parity index for completion rate, by sex, location, wealth quintile and education levelSE_AWP_CPRA: Adjusted wealth parity index for completion rate, by sex, location, wealth quintile and education levelSE_AGP_CPRA: Adjusted gender parity index for completion rate, by sex, location, wealth quintile and education levelTarget 4.6: By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracyIndicator 4.6.1: Proportion of population in a given age group achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills, by sexSE_ADT_FUNS: Proportion of population achieving at least a fixed level of proficiency in functional skills, by sex, age and type of skill (%)Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable developmentIndicator 4.7.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessmentTarget 4.a: Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for allIndicator 4.a.1: Proportion of schools offering basic services, by type of serviceSE_ACS_CMPTR: Schools with access to computers for pedagogical purposes, by education level (%)SE_ACS_H2O: Schools with access to basic drinking water, by education level (%)SE_ACS_ELECT: Schools with access to electricity, by education level (%)SE_ACC_HNDWSH: Schools with basic handwashing facilities, by education level (%)SE_ACS_INTNT: Schools with access to the internet for pedagogical purposes, by education level (%)SE_ACS_SANIT: Schools with access to access to single-sex basic sanitation, by education level (%)SE_INF_DSBL: Proportion of schools with access to adapted infrastructure and materials for students with disabilities, by education level (%)Target 4.b: By 2020, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countriesIndicator 4.b.1: Volume of official development assistance flows for scholarships by sector and type of studyDC_TOF_SCHIPSL: Total official flows for scholarships, by recipient countries (millions of constant 2018 United States dollars)Target 4.c: By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing StatesIndicator 4.c.1: Proportion of teachers with the minimum required qualifications, by education leveliSE_TRA_GRDL: Proportion of teachers who have received at least the minimum organized teacher training (e.g. pedagogical training) pre-service or in-service required for teaching at the relevant level in a given country, by sex and education level (%)

The literacy rate among females living in rural areas in Karnataka was around 60 percent in 2011. The literacy rate among males was higher than females in the state. Literacy rate disparity
Low literacy rates among rural areas of the country are mainly due to a lack of adequate facilities for education. The presence of a school in the vicinity does not guarantee the availability of resources in terms of functional toilets and access to drinking water. Even though there is free and compulsory education for children below 14 years, the necessity of money pars educational needs in many rural areas. Leading district with colleges
The urban district of the capital city of Bengaluru, Karnataka, had about 880 colleges as of 2019. Bengaluru is known for its wide range of national, international, and professional levels of education. The city, as a hub for various companies and industries, is promising for graduates and a popular destination for students.