Written by: Theodore Abara
Visual by: Anamaria Reyes
Although the Philippines has seen a reduction in the number of out-of-school children, gender disparities in education have remained an issue. Historically, boys in the Philippines were, and continue to be, more educated on average than girls. According to a study conducted in 1995 by Orbeta and Sanchez, from 1948 to 1970, the percentage of the population over 25 years of age which had completed 4 years of college education was predominantly male. However, since 1970, the trend has reversed. According to the 2017 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, of the children in the Philippines aged 5 - 15, 65% of those out of school were boys. Since 2008, boys have been more likely to be out of school than girls at every income level, demonstrating the prevalence of the gender gap in education.
Several factors contribute to this largely unaddressed problem. A potential cause for gender inequality is the majority of school teachers are female, which might lead to favoritism and gender bias towards female students. And usually it is male students who perform worse on academic measures such as National Achievement Tests, and are more likely to be withheld from the next school level. As a direct result of this unsatisfactory performance in school, boys become demotivated to continue their education, which can lead them to drop out of school.
Men, as the majority of the workforce for manual labor that requires minimal education, are often pressured to drop out of school to help the family. Especially since there are more work opportunities for males in manual labor. On the other hand, girls are expected to pursue higher education in order to provide a steady source of income in the future. Many parents, especially those living in poverty, often perceive the cost of higher level education as outweighing its long-term benefits for their children. This notion is not necessarily true, as higher educational attainment opens opportunities and creates an abundance of job prospects.
In conclusion, gender inequality in education is a major problem in the Philippines, and should be recognized as such. Parents must recognize the value and benefits of higher level education not only for girls, but boys too. The government needs to change aspects of the educational system in order to remove gender stereotypes, create a better school atmosphere, and motivate boys to continue school for the long term. Only through major reform can we solve this chronic issue.
Works Cited:
Acdedios. (2017, April 10). Poverty and School Dropouts. Retrieved November 15, 2020, from https://www.philippinesbasiceducation.us/2017/04/poverty-and-school-dropouts.html
David, et al. (2018, December). Boys are still left behind in basic education. Retrieved from https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidspn1820.pdf
In the Philippines, a school program shows diverging results for male and female students. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2020, from https://www.ifpri.org/blog/philippines-school-program-shows-diverging-results-male-and-female-students
Paqueo, V., and Orbeta Jr., A. (2019, April). Gender Equity in Education: Helping the Boys Catch Up. Retrieved from https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/PUBLICATIONS/pidsdps1901.pdf
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