Zero dropout rates in public schools pushed

MANILA, Philippines – Local government officials from almost 50 municipalities, 114 school administrators and other education advocates have set an ambitious target for public schools.

During the Synergeia Foundation’s 8th National Education Summit held last month, they have committed to bring down dropout rates in public elementary schools to zero, far from the national dropout rate of 30%.

Businessman and philanthropist Washington Sycip, a Synergeia trustee, said improving public schoolchildren’s performance and lowering dropout rates “would lift families across the country from poverty, as well as ensure that democracy would work.”

“When people are hungry, they sell their votes. Only when poverty is reduced will democracy really work in this country,” Sycip said in a statement.

To achieve this, trainings for teachers, administrators and parents are necessary, said Synergeia president and chief executive officer Milwida Guevara.

She added that community support and donations will also help send children back to school.

Among the programs that target out-of-school youth are the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Alternative Learning System and the USAID-funded Education Quality and Access to Learning and Livelihood Skills Project at the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In ARMM, the dropout rate in public elementary schools stands at 70%, according to Guevara. This is brought about by extreme poverty, child labor and families’ lack of appreciation for education. –abs-cbnNEWS.com