Education Vouchers

[grabehbebe]

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Gov’t distributes education vouchers

The government recently distributed vouchers worth P4,000 each to five public elementary schools in Tondo, Manila in order to allow poor but deserving students to enroll in private schools.

Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary Fe Hidalgo, officer-in-charge, said the distribution was made during President Arroyo’s visit to five recipient elementary schools.

These are the newly rehabilitated General M. Hizon Elementary School along Jose Abad Santos Avenue, F. G. Calderon Elementary School (FGCES), Gregorio del Pilar Elementary School, Francisco Balagtas Elementary School and the Antonio Regidor Elementary School.

The vouchers were distributed last Monday.

Mrs. Arroyo’s visit to the schools was part of the DepEd’s implementation of the Food for School Program (FSP) for elementary schoolchildren.

"The education voucher entitles graduating students from Grade 6 to an educational voucher worth P4,000 to enroll in a private high school. This will be given to poor but deserving students," Hidalgo said.

Hidalgo said that about 50 students for each school are to benefit from the program that will be extended to students at the end of this school year.

The vouchers can be used for the students’ enrollment in any private high school institutions of their choice, said Hidalgo.

Hidalgo likewise stressed that the FSP is meant for preschool and first grade pupils who will be given a one-kilo daily allowance of iron-fortified rice over a three-month period.

"But they will only be given the kilo of rice if they are in school. So you have to be in school so that you will be given one kilo of rice. All preschool and grade one children in Metro Manila will be given rice under the pro-poor program of President Arroyo," she said.

Hidalgo also said that the President’s school outreach program was initially launched outside Metro Manila in October 2005 and will continue even this coming school year.

During the school visits, Mrs. Arroyo also ordered the Department of Budget and Management to release P500 million for the construction of additional classrooms.

Earlier in January, Arroyo ordered the immediate release of funds amounting to almost P3 billion to the education sector for the construction of 6,000 classrooms a year until 2010 to close the classroom gap.

Arroyo has claimed the education sector as one of her administration’s priorities for improving the country’s economic condition.


-----http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200603080417.htm
By Sandy Araneta

[iloveyou4ever]

Good news!!!! I salute Madam for that :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[grabehbebe]

Child friendly program launched in 8 high schools

UPDATE:

THE United Nation’s Children’s Education Fund and the Department of Education has launched the Child-Friendly School System in eight pilot public high schools in the country.

The joint program aims at promoting children’s rights, reducing student dropout and failure rates and strengthening partnerships among the parents, schools and the community.

The pioneering schools are the Umiray National High School in Aurora province, Panganiban National High School in Camarines Norte, Masla High School in Mountain Province, Commonwealth National High School in Quezon City, Mabini Integrated School in Cebu City, Malinao National High School in Eastern Samar, Aleosan High School in North Cotabato and Mamasapano High School in Maguindanao.

A Unicef study showed that public high-school students suffer from low self-esteem and low interpersonal relationships, which has hampered their learning, said Unicef consultant Vilma Bravo.

Bravo said students need to improve their personality, including getting rid of shyness.
She said the students also want “more interesting ways to learn,” and not just follow the typical teacher-student relationship.

Bravo said the system will expand to 52 other high schools starting June.
Unicef launched the program in public elementary schools six years ago that now covers 33 schools.
The department wants to cut the dropout rates among boys, noting that one of four freshmen fail to graduate for lack of interest.

Bravo said boys are more likely to drop out and fail in school.
An evaluation conducted by Dr. Maria Luisa Doronila, Unicef consultant, of 131 elementary schools showed the dropout and failure rates fell when the program was introduced.

The pilot schools also accomplished half of the goals set by Unicef, among them the empowerment of teachers and providing a safe and protective environment for children.

Manila Times
By Jonathan M. Hicap, Reporter

[gareb]

The government recently distributed vouchers worth P4,000 each to five public elementary schools in Tondo, Manila in order to allow poor but deserving students to enroll in private schools.

because the Public School System, which the government is responsible, is in such a dilapidated state because of lack of funds. now they distribute meager amounts of money to show that they care, but cuts the education budget anyway.

nothing but palliative. and we still think this is good news.

[grabehbebe]

Education voucher system to benefit 100,000 poor students

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/...60404met6.html
By Jonathan M. Hicap, Reporter

ABOUT 100,000 graduating public elementary students may now study in private high schools under the Department of Education’s education voucher system.

Fe Hidalgo, acting education secretary, said the system will be implemented starting June, when 4,000 elementary schools in the country will be allotted 25 voucher grants each.

Each beneficiary shall receive a yearly aid of P4,000 for tuition and other fees in a private school. The beneficiary will receive the grant every year until he or she graduates from high school.
Hidalgo said that a beneficiary should belong to the upper 50 percent of the graduating class, and should have a total family income that does not exceed poverty-level.

Each beneficiary has until June 30 to find a private school that will accept him as system grantee.
Hidalgo said the funds will be managed by the Fund for Assistance to Private Education, a private organization which has managed scholarship programs for the department since 1997.

The department provides scholarship for poor students through programs, such as the educational service contracting and the tuition fee supplement programs, created by Republic Act 6728, the Government Assistance To Students and Teachers in Private Education Act.