Education | World Vision, DepEd partner for catch up program in Marawi

Marawi City – Child-focused humanitarian organization World Vision provides temporary learning spaces for children participating in the Kindergarten Catch-up Education Program (KCEP) led by the Department of Education (DEPED) in Sagonsongan Transitory Site.

KCEP is a complementary intervention designed for children ages 5 years old and above who, as mentioned in Republic Act 10157 do not have access to schools, daycare centers or those who live under difficult circumstances such as chronic illness, displaced due to armed conflict, urban resettlement, disasters, or extreme poverty.

Children who will participate in the program will be able to enroll as Grade 1 students this coming school year.

“World Vision lauds this government initiative and we are in full support to the program. Putting children back to learning spaces will not only ensure that they are able to access education services the soonest possible time but will also help them heal from the scars of the conflict,” says World Vision’s National Director Rommel Fuerte.

Continuing psychosocial support

Integrated in the catch-up program are other services from different stakeholders. These include psychosocial support, birth registration, supplemental feeding and other initiatives that will help learners be prepared for school. World Vision, in partnership with, DepEd, Community and Family Services International and local partners Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefit (Ecoweb), Mindanaw Tripartite Youth Core (MTYC), Tapukan Farmers MPC (TFMPC), Lanao Youth Council (LYC), and Ranaw Watch for Empowerment Network (RAWATEN), Inc. has set up child-friendly spaces in Sagonsongan to provide psychosocial support to the children. The CFS is also catering to children 3 to 4 years old who are under the early child care development program.

“CFS is necessary while the learners wait for their class to start this April. In these spaces, they are able to spend time with their fellow children, play games and express themselves through arts. These activities help create a sense of normalcy for the children and cope from the stresses of the Marawi crisis,” says Honey Joy Sampiano, World Vision’s child protection specialist.

The Marawi armed conflict which started in May 2017 has affected at least 360,000 people and has disrupted the education of about 65,000 learners. To date, more than 31,000 students were tracked, 1,024 of whom are kinder-aged children. Since World Vision launched its humanitarian response, it has already catered to more than 20,000 children through provision of temporary learning spaces, learner’s kits and setting up of 19 child-friendly spaces in the towns of Piagapo, Balo-i, Iligan, Lumbayanague, Marantao, Munai and Marawi City.

“Thanks to everyone’s generosity, we are reaching more children. The work ahead is still huge so I urge everyone, donors, partners and other stakeholders to continue supporting the recovery efforts in Marawi,” adds Fuerte.

In a report released by the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), 29% of the required USD61 Million to support humanitarian activities has been raised so far. Education and child protection programs are under-funded with less than 25% of the required funding met. World Vision/March 22, 2018

Help rebuild Marawi

World Vision is a global Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

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