ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Schools at risk due to natural disasters: the commitment of Catholic institutions in education

Manila (Agenzia Fides) - Up to 35 school days have been cancelled in some areas of the Philippines due to the effects of storms and other natural disasters in recent months, according to the Philippine Ministry of Education, which announced remedial measures. The affected areas are the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, Calabarzon and Luzon, all of which have been affected by the cancellation of school classes. With schools severely damaged, a total of around 380,000 students were affected by the consequences of the natural disasters in 2024. In addition, a total of 4,771 schools with around 3.8 million students have been declared at "high risk" of class cancellations due to the frequent natural disasters.
The emergency worsens the already critical situation of the national education system: the Philippines has a population of just over 115 million people, 5 million of whom live in extreme poverty. The link between poverty and lack of education creates a vicious cycle: poverty also results from poor access to education, and lack of education fuels poverty. Education levels in the Philippines have been deteriorating in recent years: in 2022, the Philippines ranked 77th out of 81 countries in terms of the soundness of its education system. Nine out of 10 students were unable to understand basic reading material by age 10, and in the 2022 Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA), the Philippines ranked last in reading and mathematics and third from last in science.
According to the Philippine Business for Education study center, “the country's poor performance in the 2022 PISA study is a clear indication that our education system is in poor shape and much work remains to be done. Immediate attention, collective efforts and commitments are needed to provide children and youth with a better learning experience.” Given the obvious need to improve education in the Philippines, the focus is on engaging the private sector to create learning and employment opportunities for young people. In this context, the Catholic Church is also actively involved in addressing the problem of illiteracy and the challenges plaguing the basic education system. These are “desperate cries” that cannot be ignored, said Archbishop of Davao Romulo Valles in his homily during the opening Mass of the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines (CEAP) assembly in Davao City, addressing Christian educators and teachers, calling them to be “agents of hope.”
As for basic education in the Philippines, the statistics are alarming: According to the World Bank’s 2022 data on intellectual poverty, at least 90 percent of 10-year-old Filipino children have difficulty reading or understanding simple texts, while the dropout rate remains high. Addressing these problems requires "the utmost cooperation, patience and perseverance on the part of Catholic institutions," said Archbishop Valles. The Catholic Education Association of the Philippines will continue to promote "the special importance and great value of Catholic education," said CEAP President Father Albert N. Delvo, by improving support programs for families, offering financial aid and scholarships, and developing innovative study programs. CEAP, meanwhile, calls on the Philippine government to support public schools in reducing the financial burden on families and strengthening complementarity between public and state schools. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 14/11/2024)

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