Addressing Challenges and Ensuring Enrollment
In a determined effort to prevent school dropouts and ensure that enrolled children stay in school, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the leadership of Secretary Rex Gatchalian has embarked on a series of proactive measures. As the curtains lifted on a new school year, Secretary Gatchalian highlighted the DSWD’s commitment to its pivotal goal of facilitating education through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Battling Dropout Rates and Fostering Educational Pursuits
Secretary Gatchalian acknowledged the persistent challenge of declining enrollment and instances of children leaving school. In line with this, the 4Ps National Project Management Office (NPMO) meticulously monitored the educational component of the program for the school year 2022-2023. A noteworthy 7.1 million children beneficiaries were under the watchful eye of the NPMO, with 3.2 million in elementary, 2.8 million in high school, and 1.04 million in senior high school.
Promising Results from Last Year’s Efforts
“This means that over 7.1 million children went to school last year and finished a grade level leading to one step higher in the education ladder,”
shared Romel Lopez, DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications. The comprehensive efforts of the 4Ps NPMO in the previous year served as a beacon of hope, motivating children to engage actively in their education.
Real-Time Data Generation for Current Enrollment
To sustain this momentum, Secretary Gatchalian directed Director Gemma Gabuya of the 4Ps NPMO to swiftly gather data for the current academic year. “By September, we anticipate revealing the number of children being monitored under the education component for this year. The confidence in this number being substantial, similar to the previous year, is well-founded,” emphasized Lopez, who also doubles as the concurrent DSWD spokesperson.
Empowering Families for Educational Commitment
An instrumental development in ensuring educational continuity is the Manual on Sustaining the Interest of Children and Youth in School, formulated by the 4Ps NPMO. This manual serves as a guide during Family Development Sessions (FDS), providing valuable insight into nurturing educational commitment among children and youth. The FDS serves as a platform for 4Ps household grantees and parents to enhance their parenting skills, address psychosocial needs, and promote positive family values.
Tackling Dropout Factors and Fostering Advocacy
Lopez elaborated that the FDS manual delves into the root causes contributing to school dropout rates. Furthermore, it encourages young individuals to take an active role in advocating for the return of their peers to the educational sphere. The initiative not only empowers the youth but also bolsters their involvement in promoting education.
Fostering Youth Leadership and Program Participation
The 4Ps NPMO has introduced another impactful endeavor – Strengthening Youth Leaders Intervention sessions. These sessions play a crucial role in nurturing leadership skills among the youth, equipping them to actively participate in program implementation. The youth thus become a source of inspiration for their counterparts grappling with challenges.
Comprehensive Support for Education
Lopez stressed,
“The 4Ps program offers robust case management for households with children not attending school.”
This comprehensive approach aims to address barriers to education and support families in ensuring their children’s regular attendance in school.
The 4Ps Program: A Beacon of Hope
At its core, the 4Ps program stands as the government’s flagship effort to alleviate poverty and foster social development. Its multifaceted approach includes granting cash to underprivileged households, with the overarching objective of enhancing the health, nutrition, and education of children aged 0-18.
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty through Investment in Human Capital
The program strategically invests in human capital to dismantle the vicious cycle of poverty in impoverished households. Under this initiative, families with children in grade school receive PHP300 per month, while those with high school students receive PHP500 monthly. Senior high school students receive a stipend of PHP700 per month. In addition to educational allowances, 4Ps provides PHP500 monthly to cover medical and health expenses for the children.
Nationwide Impact and Future Prospects
As of June 30, 2023, the 4Ps program has reached an impressive 3,893,958 active household beneficiaries across 41,676 barangays nationwide. This expansive coverage underscores the program’s commitment to ensuring a brighter future for the most vulnerable members of society.
In a resolute stride towards inclusive education and poverty reduction, Secretary Rex Gatchalian and the DSWD are championing the cause of education for all. Through meticulous monitoring, comprehensive family support, and innovative youth engagement initiatives, the 4Ps program stands as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path toward a more educated and prosperous future for the Philippines.
Sources: THX News & Philippine News Agency.
