Plan Intl PH partners with DepEd to implement flexible learning programs

NON-PROFIT organization Plan International, through a continuous partnership with the Department of Education, is guiding more than 18,000 girls and boys to have access to quality education and essential life skills needed for a better future.

In July 2013, Plan International, with support from Dubai Cares, started the Real Assets through Improved Skills and Education for Children Girls (Raise) program in the Philippines to address the challenges faced by disadvantaged children and youth in accessing quality education and developing essential life skills.

It began in the provinces of Northern Samar and Masbate, which both remained to be among the poorest provinces in the country with a poverty incidence of 43.5 percent and 40.6 percent, respectively.

Targeting the underserved children and youth demographic, particularly girls aged 10 to 19 years old, the program aimed to support their completion of primary and secondary education, and contrib- ute to the reduction of the dropout rate in the two provinces.

To address this, the organization together with DepEd, has been working closely with schools and local government units to support marginalized children and youths who are out of school or are in school but at risk of dropping out. The program focuses on the Alternative Learning System (ALS) to cater to needs of marginalized out-of-school children In-School Off-School Approach for elementary students and the Open High School Program for those in secondary school. Log on to to know more about the campaign.