A MAGNA Carta for Out-of-School Youths (OSYs) has been introduced at the House of Representatives.

Valenzuela City Representative Sherwin Gatchalian has authored House Bill 5896 that recognizes the fundamental rights of out-of-school youths and protects them against discrimination.

Gatchalian discussed the key points of his bill during a recent visit to Baguio City.

He said the country’s 3.84 million out-of-school-youths ”are prone to risk behaviors and other social risks like child labor, worse illegal employment, human-trafficking, sexual and physical abuse.”

The most common reasons why students quit school are early marriage and insufficient family income, he said.

Providing them with non-formal education can make them productive members of society, he added.

The Gatchalian measure will provide mandatory technical vocational education for OSYs and encourage them to advance to tertiary education or start a business.

An Out-of-School-Youth Council will be created under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). (GJF)