ENDEAVOR
Last Monday, May 29, business leaders called attention to a learning crisis in the country “where nine out of 10 students aged 10 were unable to read simple texts” as shown in “dismal results in international assessments,” and at the same time, “child malnutrition and stunting worsened in the past decade.”
Only last Saturday, May 27, the Children’s One Thousand Days Coalition led by former Senator Joey Lina held a summit at the Manila Hotel to address the serious malnutrition problem that is linked with the learning crisis. Highlighted in the conference by the World Bank representative was the prevalence of stunting in the first 1,000 days of Filipino infants. Serious malnutrition hinders brain development and impairs overall health. Malnourished children miss school and are unable to keep up with the desired learning pace.
Ahead of both events, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte addressed a Partners Convergence forum on May 25, at which she explained the DepEd’s seven-point MATATAG agenda that was launched in January. She said that MATATAG has four critical components, namely:
MAke the curriculum relevant to produce competent and job-ready, active, and responsible citizens;
TAke steps to accelerate delivery of basic education facilities and services;
TAke good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and
Give support to teachers to teach better.
DepEd is seeking alignment with its Official Development Assistance (ODA) and local partners through seven strands of cooperative action: Finance, School Infrastructure and Facilities, Administration (including digitalization), Curriculum and Teaching (focusing on literacy and numeracy), Human Resources and Educational Development, Operations, and Procurement.
Among the stakeholders present were: Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna; Quirino Governor Dakila Cua, League of Provinces national chairman; Sabin Aboitiz, chair of the President’s Private Sector Advisory Council; and US Ambassador Mary Kay Carlson.
These three events signify the convergence of multi-sectoral initiatives. Hopefully, their concerted efforts will systematically address the deepening learning crisis.
Recall that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (or 4Ps) became a budgetary priority during the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III. Congress enacted Republic Act 11310 institutionalizing the 4Ps in 2019. Despite the steep recession triggered by the pandemic, the Asian Development Bank reported an 18.1 percent poverty rate in 2021, down from 23.9 percent in 2013.
Lessons learned from the 4Ps provide insights into how malnutrition could be addressed decisively and how adequately fed and healthier children could learn better. Purposive channeling of resources and pinpoint service delivery are twin imperatives. Systematic action is key.
Poverty is still the core problem. From what I have observed since I was a student volunteer decades ago – and during my government stints – the DSWD is quite capable of locating and identifying families that require priority attention. Support from the LGUs would be helpful, too, as nutrition programs are implemented in the barangays and schools. Civic organizations could pitch in; massive corporate support would be more impactful and far-reaching.
A visit to the DSWD website provides vivid glimpses of how the 4Ps has lifted substantial numbers of Filipino families out of poverty – and how such commendable efforts could be replicated.
“Born with a congenital deformity, Edy Rose Tayab of Quezon, Bukidnon was teased and bullied by her classmates because she has no feet and left hand. The aid Edy Rose’s family received from 4Ps was a great help to alleviate their circumstances, as it enabled her to go to school. She finished high school in 2015, and was among the 200,000 student-beneficiaries of the first batch of 4Ps high school graduates. She was top 9 of her class and was determined to go to college.
“Sahanudin Benito Pumbaya of Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur, also has a similar story. His family used to be a 4Ps beneficiary. Saha, as he is fondly called by family members and friends, had an accident when he was still a toddler, which affected the growth of his leg bones limiting his mobility.”
Edy Rose graduated in July 2019, completing a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness Management at the Central Mindanao University, thanks to the DSWD ‘s partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through the Expanded Student Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGPPA), a college education program for 4Ps beneficiaries. ESGPPA has produced more than 30,000 graduates as of 2015-2016. With 13,000 enrollees in 2018-2019, the number will breach the 50,000 mark in a few years.
As reported by the DSWD: “Saha, is now employed at DSWD-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as an information desk officer. He continues living his dreams as he pursues a post-graduate degree.”
With lessons learned from more than two decades of the 4Ps, the Children’s One Thousand Days Coalition could certainly craft a fine-tuned strategy for overcoming stunting and enabling malnourished children to become more proficient learners. PBED’s corporate members might wish to focus on modeling innovative approaches that would build on the successes achieved in the 4Ps. DepEd could channel ODA grants to programs that will synergize with the programs of PBED and the nutrition coalition.