The system of education cannot be established by the sector of education and its constituents alone. Throughout the history of Philippine education, different sectors and stakeholders have pushed the country’s literacy to greater heights. Starting from the funding from the highest form of government to the support and cooperation of the local government units (LGUs), the platform of education is being carried by several strong foundations.
In February 2021, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) released a survey claiming that 13% or approximately 4.4 million Filipinos eligible to enrollment was not enrolled in any formal school. This indicates an increase in the number of Out-of-School-Youth (OSY) compared to the estimated 4 million OSYs last 2020, according to the data released by the Department of Education. May it be an impact of the pandemic or not, this is a severe problem. The good thing is, the sector of education does not have to face this alone. In fact, since the Academic Year 2020 – 2021 commenced, where many drastic changes with the curriculum were implemented, it was evident that the Local Government Units (LGUs) have been more engaged in supporting the fight to push through education. The provincial government, the barangay officials, the youth councils, the non-governmental organizations, the parents, and even private businesses all put efforts and funding to help both the teachers and the students pursue literacy.
For instance, circulating on many social networking sites are the Sangguniang Kabataan’s (SK) movements to helping elementary and high school students by providing cash incentives to those who are enrolled in public schools. They also distributed school supplies and other essentials for online classes like earphones, mini-study tables, etc., to disadvantaged families. Moreover, the barangay learning hubs were intensified as they were needed nowadays more than ever. It gave relief to thousands of students undergoing distance learning as they offer free printing services, free internet for web browsing, and some even let the use of computers as long as safety isn’t compromised. The number of scholarship grants also increased, covering a wider range of qualifications and helping more families with their financial struggles when it comes to education.
These governmental and non-governmental organizations also provided help to the teaching and administrative staff of the school. For one, many cities and municipalities throughout the country offer a subsidy to help teachers avail a computer or laptop as it is needed in distance learning. Several barangays also provided safety equipment like thermal scanners, disinfection kits, and PPEs to schools. Even the private business owners donated other essentials like bond papers and face masks to teachers.
The education system is a platform that enables learners to reach greater heights. It needs to be solid and indestructible, so it needs strong support and foundations. In these times of trial, it’s a relief to know that everyone is fighting the frontline of education: teachers, parents, concerned citizens, the government, everyone.
In our fight against illiteracy, we teachers are not alone.
REFERENCES:
• https://mb.com.ph/2021/03/01/deped-only-1-1-million-learners-did-not-enroll-this-year/
• https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1129909#:~:text=Based%20on%20data%20from%20the,27.7%20million%20enrollees%20in%202019.
• https://ideaspositive.org/sk-leaders-step-forward-with-indigent-youth-launches-free-education-program/
