Indigenous women and girls in the Philippines face significant challenges in accessing education. Social norms sometimes prevent indigenous girls from attending school so they can help with domestic work instead. While female literacy rates are slightly higher than males, indigenous girls have less access to education due to living in remote areas without basic services like schools. Ensuring education is available in indigenous languages and improving access and participation for remote communities is important to addressing these inequities.

1. Culturally and Gender
Insensitive Educational System.
Problems and Issues in the Philippine
Educational System

2. Women, the common tao and
the indigenous people are almost
historically excluded from the
Philippine historiography in favor
of the men, heroes from Luzon and
the power elite.

3. Indigenous women face significant
challenges to the full enjoyment of their human
rights. Indigenous women experience multiple
forms of discrimination, often lack access to
education
Enjoyment of the right to education is
essential to achieving equitable development
and respect for cultural diversity. It is an
investment for the future and a means to
reduce poverty and counter discrimination.

4. In certain communities, social norms
prevent indigenous girls from attending schools.
Families may prefer girls to remain at home to
perform domestic chores and care for children
and siblings; others prefer their daughters to be
married off at a young age.

5. Statistics on Filipino Women and Men's
Education

6. The basic literacy rate (those who can only read and write)
among females is 96.1% while 95.1% among males. Functional literacy (with
numerical skills) among females in the same period is higher at
88.7% as against 84.2% among males.

7. What are the key issues to be considered when
discussing gender and indigenous Peoples’
education?
• Education in indigenous languages
• Plurality of Indigenous communities
• Access and participation

8. The inclusion of indigenous languages in
the classroom is important both as a
foundation for learning and also to ensure the
maintenance and continued use of indigenous
languages. Mother-tongue education is
indispensable for effective learning process for
indigenous children and for the reduction of
dropout rates.
Education in indigenous languages

9. Indigenous women share many concerns
regarding poverty, human rights, and economic
and social development with other women
throughout the world and also offer a distinct
and important perspective on these issues.
Plurality of Indigenous communities

10. Many indigenous communities live in
remote areas where basic social and
infrastructure services such as health,
education, transportation, communication and
other primary services are not available or are
available on a limited basis.
Access and participation