Monday, April 11, 2005 (Philippines)

Flags of the Asean member-countries flutter along the approach to the Marcelo Fernan Bridge to usher the start of the two-day Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat yesterday in Mactan. The retreat is expected to discuss the controversial issue of Myanmar’s Asean chairmanship next year. See story below. (AP FOTO) In the absence of government funding for pre-schools, fewer than 400 of Cebu’s more than 1,000 elementary schools are offering early training to children under the public school system. Department of Education (DepEd) 7 records show that the 369 elementary schools account for only one-third of the total 1,049 schools province-wide. Gaps in early education endanger future generations: An international aid agency warns that many kids enter the formal education system though they aren’t ready to do so. Of the six cities, Cebu, Toledo and Talisay have more pre-schools, with 38, 21 and 12, respectively. [full story]