Managing dropout rates still a challenge for PH schools
In 2013, the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) Institute of Statistics and the Education for All Global Monitoring Report released a fact sheet stating the Philippines is the 5th country in the world with the highe
An earlier study, on the other hand, published in Education Quarterly from the U.P. College of Education enumerated the possible reasons for dropping out. Most of the primary and secondary level students lived far from school, are sick or need to be home to take care of siblings, have no pocket money for transportation, projects, school contributions or school supplies.
Poverty puts much weight on the decision of the parents and even the children to enter, drop out, or delay schooling. As economic condition affects attendance and academic performance, there is an opportunity for stakeholders in both the public and private sector to take part in helping break these barriers down - this is the opportunity that the Philippines' largest private employer, Convergys tapped to address, enabled by its 60,000-strong workforce giving back in their local communities nationwide.
A REALITY IN CEBU
The reality of school dropouts is a challenge which Helen Estoconing, Principal of Barrio Luz Elementary School, is very much aware of. In her
office at the first level of the grade school building in Cebu, she keeps a year-on-year report of the enrollment and dropout rates. Less than 1 percent dropout from the previous year may seem minute, but for this school principal, zero is always better.
"Us principals are given a goal by the Department of Education to keep dropouts low - ideally, to have the number of children who would end the school year exactly the same as the number of enrollees. This is not always the case. Many from Barrio Luz Elementary School have parents who are working hard but are still cash strapped. They have no money for uniforms and school supplies. Not having school supplies hampers students from maximizing their participation in school. But many of our students remain hopeful," says Estoconing.
And the case is true with Mia, a grade one student. She has seven other siblings, two of which are also studying in the same school. They are supported solely by their father, who works as a porter in the local pier. Notwithstanding the fact, Mia comes to school every day-perfect attendance since June-and manages to excel. She is one of the top-performing students in her grade level. For Mia, her ambition is solid-she dreams of becoming a teacher one day.
Mia is one of the 1,000 kids in Barrio Luz who benefitted from a program of Convergys Philippines called Give a Bag of Hope. In August, she and her schoolmates each received a bag filled with school supplies pencils, notebooks, pad papers, colors, sharpener, and eraser. Those items were donated by Convergys employees.
A LITTLE HOPE GOES A LONG WAY
Convergys launched the "Give A Bag of Hope" program in May, across 34 of its sites nationwide. Convergys employees themselves donate bags of hope filled with school supplies to elementary students in their partner local public schools. Three Convergys Cebu sites in Asiatown IT Park selected Barrio Luz, given its proximity to the centers.
"Our intent was clear from the beginning. We can't possibly solve all the problems of our adopted schools, but a little contribution, multiplied by the number of employees who give back, makes a big difference. For this project, about 1,000 employees in three sites pulled their resources together to give 1,000 bags of hope," said Lorelie Juntilla, Senior Director for Convergys Operations, based in Cebu.
Employees can give in several ways: aside from a monetary pledge and actual donation of school supplies, each successful referral also results to a bag of hope donated in both the employee's and new hire's name.
More than 100 Cebu employee volunteers visited the school in early August to distribute the bags of hope donated by a thousand employees. Convergys Philippines hopes to give more than 20,000 bags nationwide for the duration of the program, which culminates in August.
"We are grateful for the support. A little hope in the form of a bag goes a long way. It encourages the kids to keep going to school, it saves the parents some money, which can be allocated elsewhere in the household," said Principal Estoconing.
Estoconing also said that Barrio Luz and Convergys are already working on several programs to be implemented in the short and mid-term. "Education is the great equalizer. This is the path to inclusive growth and we are all partners in paving it. Thanks to the thousands of Convergys employees for doing this - they are helping children from poor families overcome the barriers that prevent them from studying," she concluded.
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