Saturday, April 28, 2007 Oledan: Global chain By Radzini Oledan Slice Of Life
MINDANAO joins the global chain for education.
The Global Action Week for Education is the United Nation's Education For All (EFA) drive to achieve universal education for all regardless of income.
EFA is not just about early childhood care and primary education, but about continuing lifelong education that covers both the formal and non-formal sectors. It is about ensuring that every child, youth and adult has access to good quality education around the world.
Education is so important that it was recognized as a basic human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1984 by the United Nations.
The Global Action Week moves millions of children, parents, teachers and communities into action to ask the governments around the world to keep their promises to provide education for all. 2007 is a crucial year as it is the mid-point towards the EFA deadline in 2015. .
In 2000, 164 governments agreed on the provision of free and universal education. Today, seven years on, their commitments have fallen to the wayside.
In Mindanao alone, the continuing armed conflict has affected large areas in Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao, Central Mindanao and Western Mindanao. The debilitating conflicts had caused disruptions in the delivery of basic services.
Not a few schools have totally ceased operations due to the critical situation and lack of teachers who are willing to be posted in conflict prone areas. School activities are also frequently disrupted by the conflict as it had to be use as temporary shelter of residents. Mass evacuations and displacements have also made it difficult for children to sustain attendance in school.
The long drawn conflict has been a major factor that accounts for the low school attendance and high dropout rates. The disparities are clear and the social implications are high.
What is sorely lacking in government programs for education in Mindanao is compensated by various initiatives to promote education as a vehicle for peace and development is implemented especially in conflict-affected areas.
Among them are the Alternative Learning System (ALS) accreditation and equivalency program in coordination with DepEd's Bureau of Alternative Learning System, Madrasah, Skills Training and Industry Immersion (STII), sponsorship and support to formal school-- components of the Assistance for the Comprehensive Education and Development of Mindanao (ASCEND) which is managed by Save the Children, a leading independent organization creating positive lasting change for children in need.
The Ascend program is under the Education Quality and Access to Learning and Livelihood Skills (Equalls), which is funded by USAid.
It has helped many localities build schools, train teachers and enabled children and youth to participate in ensuring a better life for themselves. In small ways, it is a step forward to reaching our goals.
It is focused on delivering on the six EFA goals, early childhood education, universal completion of free primary education, appropriate learning for youths and adults, gender equality, 50 per cent improvement in adult literacy, and ensuring quality education, which are the same areas that should be delivered by governments as a matter of right to education.
If a government fails, it is not just that they are missing out on a globally agreed goal, they are violating a basic right and should be held accountable.
