Tuesday, May 27, 2008 Oledan: Collective commitment By Radzini Oledan Slice of life
"THE City Government of Davao exists as a prime mover in upholding children's rights and assumes primary responsibility in providing full access to education, health and nutrition, shelter, safe environment, protective and rehabilitative services in order to ensure their holistic growth and development, conscious of their gender based needs. It shall take the lead in making sure that Davao City will be a safe haven for all children, creating an environment where children are recognized as a valuable human resource and important members of society where they are accepted, heard, respected, protected and cared for." -- Local Development Plan for Children
Davao City is the education hub of Mindanao and the BIMP East Asean Growth Area. Educational facilities, both operated by public and private educational institutions have earned global reputation. But it is the indigenous and child centered educational instruction both in the upland barangays and in urban, which ensure that each child is accorded with the best possible start in life.
Convergence between and among the different sectors in the city was able to respond to the growing needs and challenges in the educational system. A strong political leadership centered on the best interest of children made substantial contribution in the lives on the ground.
This collective commitment resulted to several innovations that promote education as the basis for all development programs.
One of the flagship projects of City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is the Madrasah Comprehensive Development and Promotion program, which caters to the educational needs of the Muslim children. It is in this system of education where the basic knowledge in the Arabic language and the fundamental religious obligations, social responsibilities and privileges are taught.
Basic education has been fully supported by the local government through its Local School Board and the Special Education Fund. Education initiatives are undertaken in both formal and non-formal setting.
The Alternative Learning System (ALS) accreditation and equivalency program is a parallel learning system that provides viable alternative to the existing non-formal education instruction and encompasses both the formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills.
The City Government is also bent in providing children with the best possible start through its Early Childhood Care Development (ECCD) program that seek to address the child's needs in holistic ways. There are 511 center based ECCD and 53 home based ECCD in the city.
Education and Communication for Behavior Change also forms core of the strategic intervention in the 6th Country Programme for Children (CPC VI), which covers interventions on health, education, local policy and institutional development, and children in need of special protection.
It responds to ensuring the rights through a Child Friendly School System that will allow children to speak, be heard and taken into account in local governance.
It is the commitment for inclusive governance that pushes communities to claim the right to adequate information and education. The bottom line -- informed choices and more space for participation. (Email comments to roledan@gmail.com.)
