A TOTAL of sixteen Children in Conflict with the Law housed in Bahay Pag-asa were able to graduate from elementary and move up from junior high on Thursday at Bahay Pag-asa. Out of sixteen, 11 are junior high completers while five others graduated from elementary through the Alternative Learning System.
City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) Julie Dayaday, in an interview with City Information Office on Thursday, said that they are happy with the achievement of the youth from Children’s Village Bahay Pag-asa and also the fact that it is already the fifth year that a graduation ceremony and moving up was held at the facility.
“So nalipay ta no kay kini atong CICL nga na-house sa Bahay Pag-asa [kay kini] based ni siya sa RA [Republic Act] 9344 nga nagasulti nga hatagan nato og tsansa ang atoang kabataan nga na fail, mga bata nato nga naka commit og mga crimes nga dili nila gusto pero nahitabo because ang sitwasyon sulod sa pamilya and sa ilang community mao ang nagpush kanila nga mahimo ang kriminalidad (We are happy for our CICL who are housed in Bahay Pag-asa as RA 9344 states that children who failed should be given a chance and those who committed crimes they did not wish to do but pushed to do so because of the situation of their families),” she said.
Dayaday said that those housed at Bahay Pag-asa are mandated to enroll as part of their holistic intervention.
“We have teachers that are assigned by DepEd to the Bahay Pag-asa,” Dayaday said.
She said that children are always encouraged to study for their future. But should they decide not to continue their studies, skills training are also offered at the facility.
“Sulod sa Bahay Pag-asa aside sa academic naga provide sila og skills training para naa sila’y fallback kung dili nila gusto muhuman og senior high at least naa silay skills nga mabitbit nila kung ma-integrate na sila sa community( Inside Bahay Pag-asa they are also provided skills training so that they will have a fallback if they do not wish to finish Senior High. At least they have skills once they are reintegrated into the community),” Dayaday said.
Dayaday said that currently there are 70 boys housed in Bahay Pag-asa.
“We encourage the boys nga dili nila kawangon ang tsansa nga gihatag sa ilaha (We encourage the boys to not waste the chance given them),” she added.
Dayaday said that the ALS offered inside the Bahay Pag-asa is only up to Junior High and the boys housed there have to wait for the court order for their release to continue their schooling outside.
So far according to Dayaday, the 2022-2023 graduates are optimistic and very interested in pursuing their studies and they prefer to become soldiers or police officers in the near future.(PR)