New Government Program for Out of School Youth

The United Nation’s literacy program requires all countries around the world to eradicate illiteracy among its populations by 2015. This is a tough job especially for the third world countries whose populations run in the millions and education as a basic social service is more of a privilege than a right.

The Philippines is no exception to this UN vision. After all, with its growing population and unemployment problem, education must be its top priority considering the latest findings that approximately 11 million Filipino youth from age 5 to 25 are out of school. This means 11 million Filipinos become candidates for unemployment, and potential victims of social injustice, not to mention the exploitation they suffer in the hands of syndicates and the powerful. This alarming situation and uncertain future for these children and youth has prompted the Philippine government to develop a program called Alternative Learning System where the unschooled and drop outs are given a chance to earn their diplomas by attending modular review classes with mobile teachers and volunteers. Famous Filipino Boxer Manuel Pacquiao earned his high school diploma by passing his Achievement and Equivalency test after a year of reviewing and attending his modular classes.

Already in its third year, thousands have earned their diplomas and continue to attend classes for their next level: either high school for elementary graduates and vocational or college for high school graduates. For those who do not wish or cannot afford to continue, they apply the livelihood skills taught to them as part of their curriculum.

However, in spite of government efforts to make this program available in all 7100 islands in the Philippines, there is not enough budget to do so and through its partnership with different Non Government Organizations like the Save our Street Children Foundation (SOSCFI) and the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a learning center was established to accommodate applicants from remote villages. This program was borne out of the old Street Education program offered by SOSCFI more 15 years ago where classes for street children were held under the trees in parks, abandoned buildings, public markets and even dump sites where most children are found scavenging for food or looking for materials to recycle. This program earned a national recognition for SOSCFI as one the best Literacy Programs. The Adult Literacy soon followed where mothers and adult women engaged in basic reading and writing.

Today, the Alternative Learning System is gaining popularity around the country but with very little resources, the children and youth, still to be reached can only hope and dream that one day they will be able to continue studying or learn how to read and write.

Four years ago, SOSCFI opened its facilities with a budget of $ 3500 given by Mr. John Walmsley of Australia to purchase 5 computer units. He still continues to send money to sustain the program while SOSCFI started looking for more donors of computers to maintain the ratio of one computer per student. Invitations for partnership from other NGOs and Local Government Units started to pour in to reach out to villages not entirely served by any program of education. A strong partnership among different agencies with their combined resources usually benefit more children and their families. This has been the strategy of SOSCFI which has made it possible to be able to serve more children and get the necessary education, either in a formal or non-formal set up.

Recently, SOSCFI launched its new program called “A & E” Review for first and second takers of the Achievement and Equivalency Test and for those who cannot regularly attend their A & E classes due to their work. This program offers an opportunity for these students to refresh past lessons and be able to successfully pass their test to earn the right to enter vocational and college courses. With the help of the City officials, SOSCFI was granted free use of the Multi Purpose Hall as a review center while licensed teachers, yet to be employed, volunteered as reviewers.

Recent events in the Philippines including daily realities of life shown on television and newspapers depicting poverty and crime with children and youth shown as victims or offenders has prompted different sectors to do something about this population. While a larger number of children and youth become victims of trafficking who are either forced to work in farms, prostitution houses, drug and other crime syndicates, efforts are being done to change the future of these children, but since money is always a problem on their part and that of the government, Non Government Organizations like SOSCFI took part in this program as service provider and generated interest among retired individuals and the job hunters as volunteer teachers and facilitators. The initial success of this program since it was first introduced four years ago has inspired local governments around the country to offer the same to their growing number of school drop outs due to child labor, poverty and early marriages.

~ Hoover Agyao, Executive Director of the Save Our Street Children Foundation, Inc