Many people say, youth nowadays act differently from students before. The way they dress, the way they act, the way they talk to elders even their hobbies are so different.
Before, when a child commits mistake, a mother warns her children that she will not send them to school if he will continue to do bad acts. But now the parents are the one who please their children and give all their desires just for them to go to school.
It is stated in our constitution that children has the right to be educated. This conforms to the saying left to us by our great hero, Dr. Jose Rizal that the youth are the hope of our country.
But, will it be realized if almost a quarter of the class drop out as early as the second quarter and at the end of the school year, they become almost half?
Teachers of Orion National High School conducted home visits finding out various reasons:
1. family problem
Some children lack interest in school because of depression. They seek parents’ attention and so they engage in vices resulting to absences in school.
2. children are sent to work
Income of the parents is not enough so children are sent to work at a very early age.
3. children serve as caretaker of the house
Can’t believe that some parents cannot leave their home alone. It seems that there are bars of gold in their house.
4. children take care of their youngsters
Couples work together to earn a living but they seem to forget that they sacrifice the future of their children.
5. lack of money
Some families are in that drastic situation that they skip meals. Couples are both unemployed so it is really impossible to send the children to school.
6. computer games addiction
There are also cases that the parents know that their children go to school, they are not aware that their children are often absent in school because they go to internet cafes.
But no matter what the case maybe, parents are still the culprit, because they tolerate their children’s absences. It seems that they forget their obligation to their children. Children, do not just need money, they need careful attention.
Parents are created by God to be the caretaker of these youth. Youth must be thought how to dream and let the good attitude in order to achieve this, be distinct to them. Parents must be empowered with model acts. Being a parent is not easy, it takes sacrifice.
But there are many success stories proved that nothing is impossible to achieve if there is determination, perseverance and strong faith to Almighty God. Let those be the inspiration by every member of the family.
Aside from that, government offers a free quality education. The local government units also have scholarship programs. The municipal government have school buses for the students. They also give subsidies to poor families.
With these, are there still reasons for dropping out?
Members of the families should unite and cooperate to achieve their common mission to improve the quality of their life.
By: JHENIE AGUSTIN | Head Teacher III | JUSTICE EMILIO ANGELES GANCAYCO MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL | Orion, Bataan
