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Gatchalian wants enhanced back-to-school campaign to increase enrollment in BARMM
Philippines
National
Gatchalian wants enhanced back-to-school campaign to increase enrollment in BARMM
Gatchalian wants enhanced back-to-school campaign to increase enrollment in BARMM
Published Jun 13, 2023 06:16 am
In order to address the low number of students enrolling, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called for an enhanced back- to-school program in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian (Senate PRIB Photo)
Gatchalian lamented the low cohort survival rate in the region, noting that only 17 out of every 100 learners who attended Grade 1 in School Year (SY) 2010-2011 completed Grade 12 in SY 2021-2022, citing Department of Education (DepEd) data. The senator also noted that almost half a million youth in BARMM remain out of school. Data from the DepEd and estimates from both the senator’s office and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reveal that while enrollment in the region is at 991,243, 32% or 463,963 youth in the region remain out of school. Data from the DepEd further revealed that only 6% or 28,832 out-of-school youth are enrolled in the Alternative Learning System (ALS). “Kailangang hikayatin natin ang ating mga magulang at kabataan sa BARMM upang magbalik at manatili sa mga paaralan (We need to encourage our parents and youth in BARMM to return and stay in schools),” said Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education. “Puntahan natin ang bawat tahanan at tiyakin nating hindi mapagkakaitan ng edukasyon ang ating mga kababayan sa BARMM (Let's go to every home and make sure that our compatriots in BARMM are not deprived of education),” the senator added. Based on the PSA’s 2019 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey, the lawmaker noted that the top reasons for non-attendance in schools among those aged 6-20 are lack of personal interest (34%) and the insufficiency of family income to send children to school (25.6%). Gatchalian said the DepEd should collaborate with the BARMM’s Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education in implementing the back-to-school campaign. Mayors, barangay captains, and other community leaders should also visit every household to convince parents to send their children to school, he said. At the same time, Gatchalian said the government should pursue the development and implementation of programs that will keep children, especially Grades 1 to 6 learners, in school, such as a school feeding program. He also saw the need to strengthen the implementation of the ALS program to enhance the skills and abilities of the current working population and out-of-school children and youth.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian (Senate PRIB Photo)
Gatchalian lamented the low cohort survival rate in the region, noting that only 17 out of every 100 learners who attended Grade 1 in School Year (SY) 2010-2011 completed Grade 12 in SY 2021-2022, citing Department of Education (DepEd) data. The senator also noted that almost half a million youth in BARMM remain out of school. Data from the DepEd and estimates from both the senator’s office and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reveal that while enrollment in the region is at 991,243, 32% or 463,963 youth in the region remain out of school. Data from the DepEd further revealed that only 6% or 28,832 out-of-school youth are enrolled in the Alternative Learning System (ALS). “Kailangang hikayatin natin ang ating mga magulang at kabataan sa BARMM upang magbalik at manatili sa mga paaralan (We need to encourage our parents and youth in BARMM to return and stay in schools),” said Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education. “Puntahan natin ang bawat tahanan at tiyakin nating hindi mapagkakaitan ng edukasyon ang ating mga kababayan sa BARMM (Let's go to every home and make sure that our compatriots in BARMM are not deprived of education),” the senator added. Based on the PSA’s 2019 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey, the lawmaker noted that the top reasons for non-attendance in schools among those aged 6-20 are lack of personal interest (34%) and the insufficiency of family income to send children to school (25.6%). Gatchalian said the DepEd should collaborate with the BARMM’s Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education in implementing the back-to-school campaign. Mayors, barangay captains, and other community leaders should also visit every household to convince parents to send their children to school, he said. At the same time, Gatchalian said the government should pursue the development and implementation of programs that will keep children, especially Grades 1 to 6 learners, in school, such as a school feeding program. He also saw the need to strengthen the implementation of the ALS program to enhance the skills and abilities of the current working population and out-of-school children and youth.