For education founders in the Philippines
The latest full count from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is 10,705,286 out-of-school children and youth aged 5 to 24, or 25.0% of that age group, from the 2020 Census; about 7.3 million of them are 20 to 24, and about 1.7 million are children aged 5 to 14. Other PSA surveys give much smaller numbers, such as about 4 million in 2013, because each one defines “out of school youth” differently.
This guide puts the official figures side by side, explains why they disagree, and shows what they say about age, region and reasons. Every number comes from a PSA release, World Bank data or Philippine law, with its year.
In this article
- Out of school youth: what the term means in the Philippines
- Out of school youth statistics: the latest numbers
- Why the PSA numbers differ so much
- Out of school children in the Philippines, by age
- Which regions have the most out-of-school youth
- Why Filipino children and youth leave school
- What the numbers mean for education founders
- Questions and answers
Out of school youth: what the term means in the Philippines
In everyday use, an “OSY” is a young person who is no longer in school. In official statistics, the meaning changes from survey to survey. The PSA usually reports out-of-school children and youth together, as OSCY.
The 2013 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) gives the clearest version. It counts out-of-school children as persons aged 6 to 14 who are not attending school, and out-of-school youth as persons aged 15 to 24 who are not attending school, have not finished any college or post-secondary course, and are not working. Under that definition, a working 22-year-old is not an out-of-school youth.
The 2020 Census uses a much simpler rule: anyone aged 5 to 24 in the household who is not currently attending formal school. Work and graduation are not considered. That is the main reason its total is so much larger.
The law uses its own words again. The Alternative Learning System Act (Republic Act No. 11510, 2020) defines “out-of-school children in special cases” as children of official school age who are not enrolled in elementary or secondary school because of economic, geographic, political, cultural or social barriers, including learners with disabilities, indigenous peoples and learners in emergencies. How ALS serves them is covered in our guide to the Alternative Learning System in the Philippines.
| Source (year) | Ages covered | Who counts as out of school |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Census of Population and Housing | 5 to 24 | Anyone not currently attending formal school |
| 2013 FLEMMS | 6 to 24 | 6–14: not attending school. 15–24: not attending, no college or post-secondary course finished, and not working |
| 2010 APIS | 6 to 24 | 6–17: not attending formal school. 18–24: out of school, not gainfully employed, and no college or post-secondary course finished |
| 2002 APIS | 6 to 24 | 6–14: not attending formal education. 15–24: out of formal school and not gainfully employed |
| 2022 APIS | 5 to 24 | Reports everyone “not attending school”, including those who have already finished |
APIS is the PSA’s Annual Poverty Indicators Survey. Definitions are taken from each PSA release listed in the sources.
Out of school youth statistics: the latest numbers
The PSA released the 2020 Census results on school attendance on 13 May 2024 (Reference No. 2024-158). They cover school year 2019–2020 and remain the most complete official count.
Sources: PSA 2020 Census of Population and Housing; PSA 2022 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (Reference No. 2023-303); World Bank World Development Indicators, indicator SE.PRM.UNER.ZS. The four figures use different definitions and should not be added together or compared directly.
Of the 10,705,286 out-of-school children and youth in the census, 51.3% were male and 48.7% female. A newer survey, the 2022 APIS (released 25 September 2023), found that 81.4% of Filipinos aged 5 to 24 were enrolled or attending school, and 18.6% were not. That 18.6% is not a count of out-of-school youth in the FLEMMS sense: the most common reason in that group was that the person had already finished schooling or college (21.1%).
The World Bank’s World Development Indicators give an internationally comparable figure for younger children: 1,616,165 children of primary school age were out of school in the Philippines in 2024, or 11.6% of that age group. For adolescents of lower-secondary age, the out-of-school rate was 13.1% in 2024.
Why the PSA numbers differ so much
It is tempting to put the 2013 figure (about 4 million) next to the 2020 figure (about 10.7 million) and conclude that the problem more than doubled. The PSA’s own definitions do not support that reading. The 2020 Census counts every 5-to-24-year-old not in school, including young adults who have graduated or are working. FLEMMS 2013 left those people out. FLEMMS 2013 also did not cover Region VIII (Eastern Visayas), which was left out because of Typhoon Yolanda.
| Survey (year) | Headline figure | What it is good for |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 APIS | 4.84 million, 14.7% of 6–24-year-olds | A long-run baseline, with income groups |
| 2010 APIS | 16% of about 39 million 6–24-year-olds | Reasons by age group and sex |
| 2013 FLEMMS | About 4 million, 10.6% | The closest match to the everyday meaning of “OSY”; reasons for not attending |
| 2020 Census | 10,705,286, 25.0% of 5–24-year-olds | Full count by age, sex and region |
| 2022 APIS | 18.6% of 5–24-year-olds not attending | The most recent reasons, by region and sex |
How to quote the numbers correctly. Always give the source, the year and the age range together, for example: “10.7 million Filipinos aged 5 to 24 were not attending formal school in school year 2019–2020 (PSA, 2020 Census).” If you are writing a proposal or a business plan, pick the definition that matches the people you plan to serve, and say why.
Out of school children in the Philippines, by age
The most important fact in the census table is how the total splits by age. More than two-thirds of the 10.7 million are young adults aged 20 to 24, many of whom may have finished school or be working; the census does not say. But that still leaves about 1.7 million children aged 5 to 14, and another 1.66 million teenagers aged 15 to 19.
| Age group | Population (2020) | Not attending school | Share of the age group not attending | Share of all 10.7 million |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5–9 | 11,266,823 | 1,313,570 | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 10–14 | 11,080,715 | 390,809 | 3.5% | 3.7% |
| 15–19 | 10,459,186 | 1,664,756 | 15.9% | 15.6% |
| 20–24 | 9,969,846 | 7,336,151 | 73.6% | 68.5% |
Source: PSA, 2020 Census of Population and Housing, Tables 1 and 3. The “share of the age group” column is calculated from the PSA counts; the census reports attendance of 88.3%, 96.5%, 84.1% and 26.4% for the four age groups.
Which regions have the most out-of-school youth
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and before it ARMM, appears at or near the bottom of school attendance in every PSA survey cited here. In the 2020 Census, BARMM’s attendance rate for ages 5 to 24 was 64.5%, the lowest of all regions; the highest were Bicol (78.8%), Eastern Visayas (78.7%) and Caraga (78.5%).
| Survey (year) | Lowest attendance or highest out-of-school share | Highest attendance or lowest out-of-school share |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 APIS | ARMM 23.1% out of school; Central Visayas 18.3%; NCR 17.2% | Cagayan Valley 10.6%; CAR 10.8% |
| 2010 APIS | ARMM about 24%; Davao 19% | CAR 10% |
| 2013 FLEMMS | ARMM 14.4% | CAR 7.1% |
| 2020 Census | BARMM 64.5% attending | Bicol 78.8% attending |
| 2022 APIS | Zamboanga Peninsula 76.7%, BARMM 78.1%, Central Luzon 79.5% attending | MIMAROPA 85.1%, Eastern Visayas 84.8%, Bicol 84.4% attending |
Rates are not comparable across rows because definitions and age ranges differ. CAR is the Cordillera Administrative Region; NCR is the National Capital Region.
Poverty runs through the regional pattern. In the 2002 APIS, 28.4% of children and youth from the poorest 40% of families in ARMM were out of school, against 17.9% from the upper 60%. In the 2010 APIS, one-fifth of all out-of-school youth belonged to the bottom 10% per capita income group.
Why Filipino children and youth leave school
Each survey asks why a young person is not attending. The answers shift with age and sex, but three themes repeat: money, marriage and family, and a loss of interest in school itself.
| Reason | 2013 FLEMMS (out-of-school children and youth) | 2022 APIS (all 5–24-year-olds not attending) |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage or union | 22.9% | 10.7% |
| Cost: family income too low, or high cost of education | 19.2% | 9.9% |
| Lack of personal interest | 19.1% | 12.6% |
| Employment | Not reported among the top reasons | 19.7% |
| Already finished schooling or college | Excluded by definition | 21.1% |
The differences between young men and women are large. In FLEMMS 2013, about 4 in 10 out-of-school females had already married, while about 3 in 10 out-of-school males had no interest in attending school. In the 2022 APIS, more males than females were not attending because of employment (25.9%) and lack of personal interest (17.9%), and more females because of marriage (17.0%).
Regions differ too. In 2022, BARMM had the highest shares of young people not attending because of the cost of education (23.2%) and family matters (16.2%). The Cordillera Administrative Region had the highest share citing lack of personal interest (24.1%). In the 2010 APIS, lack of personal interest was the most common reason given by out-of-school youth aged 13 to 17.
“Lack of personal interest” is a survey category, not an explanation, and the surveys do not break it down. What they do show is that in every round, a large share of out-of-school young Filipinos give a reason about school itself, not only about money or family.
Want to build a school for children who have stopped going?
NIJIN Academy is an alternative school in Japan for children who do not fit conventional school; many of them had stopped going altogether. It opened in September 2023 and is a hybrid: children join from home through a metaverse campus, choose from about 100 live online classes a month, and can also go to 52 physical classrooms across Japan. NIJIN is looking for one person to start NIJIN Academy Philippines and lead it, as both business head and principal. Teaching experience is not required.
See the Country Head role in the PhilippinesWhat the numbers mean for education founders
For someone who wants to start a school or a learning center, the statistics point to three different groups, each with a different model and set of rules.
- Children of school age who are out of school. About 1.7 million aged 5 to 14 in the 2020 Census. A private school or learning center that teaches them in place of school needs authority from the Department of Education (DepEd); see our guide to the DepEd permit to operate.
- Teenagers who are drifting away. The 15-to-19 group, about 1.66 million, where lack of interest, work and marriage start to appear. Our guide on how to start a learning center in the Philippines explains where a tutorial business ends and a school begins.
- Young adults without a completed basic education. Part of the 20-to-24 group. The Alternative Learning System is the main public route for them, and private organizations usually work alongside it rather than replace it.
Ownership is a separate question. Under Article XIV, Section 4(2) of the 1987 Constitution, educational institutions, other than those set up by religious groups and mission boards, must be owned solely by Filipino citizens or by corporations or associations at least 60% of whose capital is owned by Filipino citizens, and their control and administration must be vested in Filipino citizens. Any school with foreign participation has to be structured around that rule. This is not legal advice; check your own case with a Philippine lawyer and with DepEd. If you are weighing a franchise against building your own school, see education franchise in the Philippines.
Figures are those published by NIJIN. “Attendance recognition” means the school a child is registered at counts learning at NIJIN Academy as school attendance; the decision is made by each school’s principal. These are results in Japan, not a forecast for the Philippines.
The Country Head is a founder role. As a guide, compensation is 10% of revenue (excluding tax), up to JPY 50 million: JPY 100 million of revenue would give JPY 10 million, and JPY 200 million would give JPY 20 million. This is a guide, not a guarantee; with no revenue, the formula pays nothing. Investment is optional. You can start on a service contract, even alongside your current work, or as a co-owner of a local company. NIJIN’s example of shareholding is 20% for the Country Head and 80% for NIJIN, but it is only an example: because of the 60% Filipino ownership rule, the actual structure is decided in the interview and with Philippine legal experts.
Questions and answers
How many out of school youth are there in the Philippines?
The PSA’s 2020 Census counted 10,705,286 out-of-school children and youth aged 5 to 24, or 25.0% of that age group, in school year 2019–2020. This counts everyone not attending formal school, including those who have finished. The 2013 FLEMMS, which excludes graduates and working youth, counted about 4 million.
What is the definition of out of school youth in the Philippines?
It depends on the survey. In the PSA’s 2013 FLEMMS, out-of-school youth are persons aged 15 to 24 who are not attending school, have not finished any college or post-secondary course, and are not working. The 2020 Census used a broader rule: anyone aged 5 to 24 not attending formal school.
What is the age of out of school youth?
In most PSA releases, “youth” means 15 to 24, and “children” means 5 or 6 to 14. The 2010 APIS split the groups at 17 and 18 instead. Always check the age range before comparing two figures.
Are there PSA out of school youth statistics for 2024, 2025 or 2026?
We did not find a newer PSA count of out-of-school children and youth than the 2020 Census (released in 2024) and the 2022 APIS (released in 2023). For younger children, the World Bank’s data show 11.6% of primary-school-age children out of school in 2024. Check the PSA website for new releases.
What are the main reasons why youth are out of school in the Philippines?
In the 2013 FLEMMS, the top reasons were marriage or union (22.9%), insufficient family income (19.2%) and lack of interest (19.1%). In the 2022 APIS, among all 5-to-24-year-olds not attending, they were having finished school (21.1%), employment (19.7%), lack of personal interest (12.6%), marriage (10.7%) and high cost of education (9.9%).
Is the NIJIN Country Head a job or a business?
It is closer to starting a business. The Country Head leads NIJIN Academy Philippines as both business head and principal. As a guide, compensation is 10% of revenue, up to JPY 50 million, and investment is optional. Contract type, timing and structure are discussed in the interview.
Build a school for children who left school
Millions of young Filipinos are outside school, and many give a reason about school itself. If you have led and hired a team, and you want to build something for them in the Philippines, read the Country Head role. Teaching experience is not required.
See the Country Head role in the PhilippinesWhere to go next
NIJIN Academy Country Head pages are open for several countries, and the global page covers every other country.
- Philippines
- Country Head (global)
- India
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Learning Poverty in the Philippines
- NIJIN careers in English
Related guides for founders
- Alternative Learning System in the Philippines: how ALS works
- How to start a learning center in the Philippines
- How to start a school in the Philippines
- How to be a homeschool provider in the Philippines
- Out-of-school children: causes and solutions
- School refusal (futoko) in Japan
Sources
All figures in this article are quoted with the year they refer to. Some PSA pages are linked through the Internet Archive because psa.gov.ph often blocks automated access. Please check the original for later updates.
- PSA, 2020 Census of Population and Housing: school attendance (Reference No. 2024-158, 13 May 2024)
- PSA, Four out of Five Children Aged 5 to 24 Years Were Attending School for School Year 2022 to 2023 (2022 APIS, Reference No. 2023-303)
- PSA, Out-of-School Children and Youth in the Philippines (2013 FLEMMS, Reference No. 2015-029)
- PSA, One Out of Every Eight Filipinos 6 to 24 Years Old is an Out-of-School-Youth (2010 APIS, Reference No. 2011-083)
- PSA, Out-of-school children and youth highest in ARMM (2002 APIS, Reference No. 2003-075)
- World Bank, Children out of school (% of primary school age), Philippines
- World Bank, Children out of school, primary, Philippines (data API)
- World Bank, Adolescents out of school (% of lower secondary school age), Philippines (data API)
- Republic Act No. 11510 (Alternative Learning System Act), 2020
- The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Article XIV
- https://nijin.co.jp/recruit/nijin-academy-philippines-country-head/
- https://academy.nijin.co.jp/