International Journal of Pedagogics
13
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijp
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue08 2025
PAGE NO.
13-16
10.37547/ijp/Volume05Issue08-03
Developing Functional Literacy in Primary School Students
Through Integrated Methods
A.A.Urazimbetova
Associate Professor, PhD, Profy Univercity, Uzbekistan
Received:
09 June 2025;
Accepted:
05 July 2025;
Published:
07 August 2025
Abstract:
This article highlights the importance of developing functional literacy in primary school students. It
presents both theoretical foundations and practical recommendations on how to enhance students' knowledge
and skills through integrated approaches. These approaches aim to improve the effectiveness of education,
ensure interdisciplinary connections, and strengthen students' ability to independently solve real-life problems.
Keywords:
Functional literacy, integrated approach, primary education, interdisciplinary connection, practical
skills.
Introduction:
In the current era of globalization, there
is an increasing demand for human capital quality,
particularly in terms of education quality and its
practical effectiveness. From this perspective, the
primary education system should not only build
students' knowledge base but also teach them to make
informed decisions in daily life, express their thoughts
coherently, and analyze information. This is directly
related to the concept of functional literacy.
Functional literacy is not merely the ability to recognize
letters and read; it involves applying acquired
knowledge in real-life situations, working with
information, critical thinking, and problem-solving
skills. Utilizing integrated methods is of urgent
importance in developing such competencies.
Functional literacy refers to an individual's ability to
effectively apply basic literacy skills such as reading,
writing, and arithmetic in daily life activities, social
interactions, information processing, and analysis. This
term was first widely introduced into scientific
discourse in the second half of the 20th century by
UNESCO and other international organizations.
In scientific sources, functional literacy is described as
"an individual's capacity to independently solve
problems
based on
information, engage
in
communication within a social environment, and tackle
everyday tasks autonomously" (OECD, 2019). This form
of literacy extends beyond theoretical knowledge,
emphasizing the flexible application of that knowledge
in practical contexts.
Academic literature identifies the following core
components of functional literacy:
1. Textual literacy
–
the ability to understand,
interpret, and evaluate different types of texts.
2. Numerical literacy
–
the ability to analyze numerical
data and draw conclusions from it.
3. Information and digital literacy
–
the conscious use
of technologies and information tools.
4.
Critical
thinking and problem-solving skills.
5.
Socio
-cultural and civic literacy.
Thus, functional literacy is a comprehensive set of skills
that contributes to the development of a well-rounded,
active, independent, and socially adaptable individual.
International Journal of Pedagogics
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International Journal of Pedagogics (ISSN: 2771-2281)
The concept of functional literacy lies at the heart of
modern pedagogy and educational strategies.
Educational theorists such as V.S. Lednev, Z.Kh.
Nazarova, and John Dewey evaluate the effectiveness
of education not only by the assimilation of knowledge
but also by its application in practice and relevance to
real-life situations.
Development of functional literacy in primary
education:
• forms the basis of the principle of personality
-
oriented education;
• Accelerates the student's socialization process;
• Strengthens the foundations of creative and critical
thinking;
• Creates the basis for future compe
titiveness in the
labor market;
• Allows high results in international assessment
systems (PISA, PIRLS).
International experience shows that the formation of
functional literacy from an early age requires a
comprehensive approach at the stages of preschool
and primary education. In developed countries, this
literacy is defined as a central element of curricula.
In the Decree of the President of the Republic of
Uzbekistan dated January 28, 2022 No. UP-60
"Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-
2026," the development of functional literacy, the
training of students according to PISA and other
international programs has been raised to the level of
state policy.
Functional literacy is a set of practical skills that prepare
a modern individual to apply knowledge to real-life
situations. It is a strategic educational direction that
should be continuously developed, starting from
primary education. From a scientific perspective, this
literacy is not only an indicator of one's knowledge level
but also a measure of personal development, problem-
solving ability, and social engagement.
In modern education, the integrated approach is being
formed as one of the important methodological
principles of the pedagogical process. This approach
serves the formation of students' knowledge, skills, and
competencies in a holistic, integral system. Integrated
education is the process of providing knowledge based
on the natural connection between various disciplines,
types of activities, or forms of teaching.
The main goal of the integrated approach is the
formation of the student's ability to apply the acquired
International Journal of Pedagogics
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International Journal of Pedagogics (ISSN: 2771-2281)
knowledge in practical activities, adapting it to real-life
situations. This approach, unlike teaching separately in
traditional subjects, develops in students a holistic
worldview, logical thinking, and the ability to solve
problems
comprehensively
by
ensuring
interdisciplinary connections.
From a scientific point of view, the integrated approach
can be explained as follows:
1. Thematic approach
- the combination of different
disciplines within the framework of one topic. For
example, the topic "Nature and Us" can be studied
together through the subjects of native language,
biology, and art.
2. Methodological approach
- combining different
disciplines through the same didactic methods (project,
problem-based learning, research).
3. Organizational approach
- joint organization of
lessons in cooperation with teachers, comprehensive
planning of extracurricular activities.
Pedagogical research (Fogarty, 1991; Dewey, 1938;
Nazarova, 2020) shows that through an integrated
approach, students better assimilate knowledge,
analyze it independently, and are able to adapt to new
situations. This approach is also an effective tool for
improving students' functional literacy.
At the stage of primary education, the integrated
approach is especially relevant, since during this
period, students perceive the surrounding world as a
whole. By showing interdisciplinary connections and
connecting lessons, they form a holistic understanding
of nature, society, art, mathematics, and technology.
The advantages of the integrated approach are:
1. Forms deep and stable knowledge in students;
2. Develops critical and creative thinking;
3. Indicates interdisciplinary connections and brings
them closer to practice;
4. Increases motivation and interest in learning;
5. Forms functional skills corresponding to real life.
An integrated approach is a necessity of modern
education, which serves to form students' ability to
think comprehensively, participate socially actively,
and solve problems in life. Especially in primary grades,
the educational process, organized on the basis of this
approach, plays an important role in the development
of functional literacy.
Integrated methods for the development of
functional literacy:
1. Project-based learning
. Students create projects on
topics relevant to them. In this process, they use such
subjects as mathematics, native language, and natural
science. For example, in the project "Environmental
Problems in My Neighborhood," students:
• collection of statistical information (mathematics),
• search for information and write text (native
language),
• environmental studies (natural science),
• acquire skills
to make proposals for waste recycling
(creative thinking).
2. Conducting lessons based on interdisciplinary
integration.
For example, the topic "Water is the
source of life" can be combined with mathematics
(calculation of water consumption), natural science
(water circulation), native language (reading and
writing texts about water), music (songs about water).
3. Role-playing games and problem situations
.
Through problem situations, students enter a role in
real life and acquire functional skills such as decision-
making, problem-solving, and interaction with others.
In young children, figurative thinking, understanding
through
action,
and
learning
through
play
predominate. Therefore, integrated methods do not
bore the reader and arouse interest. In addition, tasks
given through various means (visual materials, audio,
video, interactive games) serve to further strengthen
functional literacy.
The development of functional literacy is one of the
priorities of modern education. Especially in primary
grades, the formation of these skills determines the
foundation of the future educational process.
Integrated approaches are an effective tool in this
regard, helping students develop as individuals who are
adaptable to real life, think critically, and can apply
knowledge in practice.
REFERENCES
Nazarova Z.X. (2021). Funksional savodxonlik: nazariya
va amaliyot.
–
Toshkent: Fan va texnologiya nashriyoti.
Abdullaeva N.S. (2019). Boshlang‘ich sinflarda
integratsiyalashgan darslarni tashkil etish.
–
Toshkent:
O‘q
ituvchi nashriyoti.
Lednev V.S. (1990). Teoriya soderjaniya obrazovaniya.
–
Moskva: Prosveshchenie.
Fogarty R. (1991). The Mindful School: How to Integrate
the Curricula.
–
Palatine, IL: IRI/Skylight Publishing.
Jacobs H.H. (1989). Interdisciplinary Curriculum: Design
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Alexandria, VA: Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Dewey J. (1938). Experience and Education.
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New
York: Macmillan.
UNESCO Institute for Statistics. (2017). Measuring
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