Back to School in the Philippines: What’s New?
June 10, 2008 is the official start of the new school year in the Philippines. Millions of schoolchildren will be trooping back to their classrooms for another year of learning. I hope they had a good summer vacation and look forward to a productive year ahead.
Back to school sales are the norm at this time of the year. Notebooks and pencils are just some of the items you can get at low(er) prices…. ah, the smell of new school supplies is one of my favorite memories… This is also the time to get new shoes, bags and uniforms.
Sadly, not every Filipino child can afford new things at the start of the year. These children deserve an education as much as everyone else. So the Department of Education has made it easier for their families to send them to school without having to think about new outfits.
One of the new things this school-year is that uniforms will no longer be required in public elementary and secondary schools. The directive has come from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in order to “remove any and all obstacles, particularly financial, to (children’s) enrollment in public schools”. Furthermore, school identification (ID) cards will be provided to these students for free.
Another program that has been making a difference in schools is the Brigada Eskwela (School Brigade) project. While not new, Brigada Eskwela has increased participation to more than 39,300 schools. Started in 2003, this program mobilizes community volunteers who do work on schools in their area to make sure that the buildings are ready for the students come school opening day. They perform minor repairs and maintenance around the school such as painting, plumbing jobs, repairs of chairs and desks. The work put in by the volunteers are worth millions of pesos. It also fosters a sense of community that takes care of its own and its future. Well done, guys!
via Department of Education (Brigida Eskwela and DepEd Order No. 45); Creative Commons image by FourthFloor on Flickr
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POSTED IN: Education and Religion
June 16th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
i don’t quite agree with the no school uniform policy since this can be a source of “inggitan” or envy in school. since public school caters to middle and lower class children, this may incite more trouble than help. thank God for free IDs, students should never have to pay for it.
great stuff you got here. :)