DSWD works to increase day care enrolment to 3 million

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) hopes to increase enrolment of day care children from 1.2 million to 3 million through the electronic learning project which it will implement soon together with two private organizations.

The DSWD has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Meralco Foundation Inc. (MFI) and Technology Support Services, Inc. (TSSI) for the creation of a Philippine e-Learning Network, or PeN Project.

The project is a distance learning program for day care centers under the early childhood care and development (ECCD) program of the government for all barangay day care centers.

Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said the project will be implemented in 42,000 barangay day care centers nationwide.

Under the PeN project, children will experience a stimulating and enriching early childhood experience carried out through the home, day care, pre-school or kindergarten, Cabral said. Their parents will also be provided with a literacy training and continuing education program, she said.

Parents, caregivers, day care workers and pre-school teachers will be trained on proper stimulation and development of children. It will also review and update pre-school curriculum.

“Our main goal for this project is to provide quality and holistic early childhood care education, not only developing the child’s cognitive, social, physical and emotional aspect but also integrate health, nutrition and other needs of the children to be part of the pre-school program,” Cabral said.–Helen M. Flores, Philippine Star