Article by: Tara Tulshyan
Visual by: Erica Nido
Visayas is facing an educational crisis: dropout rates are increasing drastically. While there are many factors that influence these rates, perhaps the most important underlying issue is the educational system itself.
In Eastern Visayas, the increasing number of dropouts is primarily due to familial problems and early marriage. G.H. Ambat, the Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs and Alternative Learning of the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd), observed that more females drop out of high school since they get pregnant or choose to get married early and therefore cannot keep pace with their studies. Ambat disclosed that schools need to be more active in supporting young mothers, promoting sex education and contraceptives, and encouraging alternative learning options, such as DepEd’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) curriculum. Between 2017 and 2018, in central Visayas, 5.38% of students in Junior High dropped out of school. Cebu, a province in Central Visayas, has introduced a new learning model in 2019, called the Integrated Curriculum-Cebu (iC-CEBU). This model was specifically designed to combat gender inequity and gender insensitivity—these are to be integrated into the curriculum to improve it. The DepED-Cebu regional district places an emphasis on the importance of marriage and the value of waiting. The main method of iC-Cebu is multidisciplinary learning—this will help students engage in lectures and gain interest in school. Furthemore, with this new style of learning, students are able to gain a wider range of topics. This aids in students’ analysis and problem solving skills, communication, literacy, and transfer of learning.
On the other hand, in Western Visayas, financial issues are the greatest challenge for students and are the most common reason for dropouts. The Regional Development Council has reported a 48.54% dropout rate amongst secondary students. This rate can be largely attributed to the financial challenges these students are facing. Although education is essentially free for all students, families still have many fees to pay. Some of these expenses include transportation, lunch money, field trips, and school supplies. These extra payments are a financial burden to many families. Therefore, to combat this issue, DepEd-Western Visayas is vying to pilot “Obra Eskwela.” This is a program that translates to “Work School,” that aims to provide a means to learn while working simultaneously through an alternative learning system. This ensures students can sustain their livelihoods and help their families, while staying in school.
All of these programs are aimed towards fostering a love of learning and easing financial burdens. Furthermore, these programs provide alternative learning methods for students, no matter their background and circumstance. These programs are an active step toward closing the education inequality gap; whether dropouts are due to financial, gender or family constraints, education can be available to all.
Works Cited:
Charm, Neil. “DepEd-Western Visayas Eyes Study-Work Program to Address High Dropout Rate in Secondary School.” BusinessWorld, www.bworldonline.com/deped-western-visayas-eyes-study-work-program-to-address-high-dropout.
Miasco, May B. “Early Marriage, Family Issues Top School Dropout Reasons.” Philstar.com, The Freeman, 30 May 2019, www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/bottom-article-list/2019/05/31/1922472/early-marriage-family-issues-top-school-dropout-reasons#:~:text=In the four provinces in,for school year 2017-2018.
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