37K children of 4Ps households in Eastern Visayas not in school
TACLOBAN CITY—At least 37,474 children of families enrolled in the government’s cash assistance Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Eastern Visayas are currently not attending school.
While the number represents only around 8 percent of the more than 432,700 monitored 4Ps children in the region, it remains a serious concern for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“For us in the DSWD, this is very alarming. Even one child who is not enrolled is already a concern. We have to provide the necessary interventions and support,” said Paula Unay, 4Ps regional coordinator, in an interview on June 10.
The 37,474 out-of-school children are age 6 to 18, the age group covered by the 4Ps education conditionality.
“This is frustrating for us especially since these children are part of the monitored list. We expect them to be in school,” Unay said.
She cited early pregnancy, bullying and the child’s own refusal to attend school as the most common reasons for dropping out.
Under the 4Ps program, school attendance is a key requirement for continued eligibility.
Families receive educational grants ranging from P300 to P800 per child, depending on the education level.
To qualify, children must be enrolled and have at least 85 percent class attendance.
“If this condition is not met, the education grant is suspended,” Unay explained.
Alternatives
To address the issue, DSWD is encouraging parents and children to explore alternative pathways to education, including the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Alternative Learning System which offers a more flexible, nonformal mode of instruction.
Ronilo Al Firmo, assistant regional director of DepEd in Eastern Visayas, acknowledged that the high number of out-of-school children among 4Ps families may be contributing to the region’s dropout rate, currently pegged at 7.9 percent.
“This is a major concern. Imagine 37,000 children not in school—it’s a significant figure,” Firmo said.
He added that the DepEd is working closely with the DSWD to bring these children back to the classroom and help them build a better future.
