Pia honors CNN Hero Efren Peñaflorida

Senator Pia S. Cayetano is set to file a resolution honoring street educator Efren Peñaflorida, who was recently named CNN Hero of the Year for his efforts to promote learning among the youth in poor communities through his "pushcart classroom" program.

"Efren Peñaflorida's recognition as CNN Hero of the Year is very timely for a nation constantly in search of modern-day role models. We should all be proud of him and his Dynamic Teen Company volunteers," said Cayetano, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice.

"His achievement should inspire us to become heroes in our own way. If only we can focus our talents and efforts to serve others, then we can all be like Efren."

"But while his feat should bring great pride to all Filipinos, it should also serve as an eye-opener for the government on the need to address the declining state of education throughout the country," she added.

She noted that far from achieving the country's commitment to achieve universal education under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), dropout rates were still considerably high at 6 percent for the elementary level and 7.45 percent for the secondary level, based on latest data (School Year 2007-2008) from the Department of Education.

Perennial problems like lack of school teachers, classrooms and learning materials every school year have brought about the need for alternative volunteer educators like Peñaflorida's group. The pushcart classrooms, she said, came about because of the low participation rate and high dropout rate in basic education.

"We are fortunate and thankful for volunteers like Peñaflorida who have taken it upon themselves to fill in the huge gaps in the educational system brought about by the government's own shortcomings. But we should also intensify our call for the government not to renege on its duties."

"Providing quality universal education is the government's obligation. The budget for education and increasing the take-home pay of teachers should be given high priority in the national budget to plug the age-old problems in basic education."