Press Release
August 10, 2009

ANGARA CALLS FOR MORE DAY-CARE CENTERS, IMPROVE CHILD DEVT
Believes quality child learning is vital precursor to the country's social and economic development

Senator Edgardo J. Angara is urging the Senate to legislate the founding of day care centers in every barangay to strengthen the country's pre-school education and promote effective social, intellectual and skills stimulation and value formation for children.

Sen. Angara, former President of the University of the Philippines, notes, "The value of early childhood development can be better appreciated when we examine the rate of failure in the licensure tests." He cited that for every 100 professional licensure examinees, only 32 pass.

Furthermore, Sen. Angara laments that for every 100 students who enter college, less than half are able to earn a degree; out of 100 First Year high school students, only 68 are able to graduate; and that in every 100 Grade 1 entrants, only 65 are able to finish Grade 6. He noted that 60% of school dropouts in the elementary level occur in grades 1 & 2.

Concerned with the alarming dropout rate in public elementary schools, Angara admits, "A big contributing factor to poor quality of education is lack of preparation in our schooling."

The gradual acceptance of private pre-school in the country today underscores the importance of early education. Whereas child educators agree that starting education at pre-school age has substantial benefits and contributes to better academic performance, pre-school helps reduce the number of repeaters and hence the cut back on educational expenditure.

Studies point out benefits from early childhood education. One study showed that children who undergo pre-school are less aggressive, less prone to violence. Another proved that those who attended pre-school score 27% higher on a standard math test compared to students that didn't attend pre-school. Preschool boosts a child's cognitive and language and social development.

In turn, teachers in all other levels will be compelled to continuously undergo training so they are able to respond to the needs of better-prepared students entering elementary. This propels better quality education to our students. Along with enhanced technical/vocational education, will generate a more educated labor force that will gear us to be more globally competitive.

Angara stresses, "This is an investment the country must make, in consonance with the studies made on and with the benefits of early childhood education in mind. To meet the challenges in both the domestic and global labor market and to respond to the needs and opportunities of globalization, it is imperative that we ready our children with the right coping skills and learning abilities as early."

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