Gatchalian: Bring out-of-school children, youth back to school

Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement an aggressive back-to-school campaign targeting the country's almost 11 million out-of-school children and youth (OSCY).

Gatchalian's call followed the release of a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which revealed that 10.7 million children and youth aged 5 to 24 are OSCY. The PSA defines OSCY as individuals who are not attending formal school.

The PSA added that 68.5% of these 10.7 million OSCY are aged 20 to 24, 15.6% are aged 15 to 19, 12.3% are aged 5 to 9, nang and 3.7% are aged 10 to 14. Gatchalian pointed out that they can enroll in the Alternative Learning System (ALS), a parallel learning system that provides a viable alternative to the existing formal education instruction.

The Alternative Learning System Act (Republic Act No. 11510), which Gatchalian authored and sponsored this 19th Congress, institutionalized the ALS to give out-of-school children in special cases and adult learners a second chance to complete basic education.

Gatchalian added that school-age children, except those in special cases, should be brought to the formal school system. Under the ALS law, out-of-school children in special cases are school-age children who are not enrolled in elementary and high schools because of economic, geographic, cultural, and other barriers. Out-of-school children in special cases include learners with disabilities, indigenous peoples, children in conflict with the law, learners in emergency situations, and other marginalized sectors.

"Mahalagang tiyakin nating maaabot natin ang ating mga kabataang wala sa mga paaralan upang mabigyan sila ng pagkakataong makatanggap ng edukasyon. Para sa ating mga nakatatandang mga mag-aaral at sa mga out-of-school children in special cases, maaari silang mag-enroll sa ALS upang hindi mapag-iwanan pagdating sa pagkakataong makapagtapos at magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan," said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

Gatchalian: Mga out-of-school children at youth ibalik sa mga paaralan

Hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Department of Education (DepEd) na magpatupad ng agresibong back-to-school campaign upang ibalik sa paaralan ang halos 11 milyong out-of-school children and youth (OSCY).

Kasunod ito ng lumabas na ulat mula sa Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), kung saan lumabas na 10.7 milyong mga kabataang may edad na lima hanggang 24 ang maituturing na OSCY o hindi bahagi ng pormal na sistema ng edukasyon.

Ayon pa sa PSA, 68.5% ng 10.7 milyong OSCY ang 20 hanggang 24 taong gulang, 15.6% ang nasa 15 hanggang 19 taong gulang, 12.3% ang 5 hanggang 9 taong gulang, at 3.7% ang 10 hanggang 14 taong gulang. Ayon kay Gatchalian, maaari silang mag-enroll sa Alternative Learning System (ALS) na nagbibigay ng alternatibong paraan para makapag-aral at makapagtapos.

Si Gatchalian ang may akda ng Alternative Learning System Act (Republic Act No. 11510) na ginawang institutionalized ang ALS. Sa ilalim ng naturang batas, magkakaroon ang mga out-of-school children in special cases at nakatatandang mga mag-aaral ng pangalawang pagkakataong makatanggap ng edukasyon.

Binigyang diin naman ni Gatchalian na maliban sa mga out-of-school children in special cases, ang mga batang nasa wastong edad ng pag-aaral ay dapat nang ibalik sa pormal na sistema ng edukasyon. Kabilang sa mga maituturing na out-of-school children in special cases ang mga mag-aaral na may kapansanan, indigenous peoples, children in conflict with the law, mga mag-aaral na naipit sa sakuna, at iba pang mga marginalized sectors.

"Mahalagang tiyakin nating maaabot natin ang ating mga kabataang wala sa mga paaralan upang mabigyan sila ng pagkakataong makatanggap ng edukasyon. Para sa ating mga nakatatandang mga mag-aaral at sa mga out-of-school children in special cases, maaari silang mag-enroll sa ALS upang hindi mapag-iwanan pagdating sa pagkakataong makapagtapos at magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan," ani Gatchalian, Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Basic Education.