Karl Kübel Pre-School Education Project for marginalized children in Agusan del Sur
Project holder
JPIC-IDC
Fr. Anthony Salas, svd
Executive Director
Email: fr.tony_jpic@yahoo.com.ph
Tel. (63-32) 2533254, Fax (63-32) 2547459
Target Groups
122 Pre-schoolers in Brgy. Binongan, Veruela, Agusan del Sur
Project Objectives
122 Pre-school children ages 3-5 have undergone quality Early childhood Education and will be better equipped to be enrolled in formal primary education in Brgy. Binongan, Veruela the Province of Agusan del Sur.
Project area
Barangay Binongan, Veruela, Agusan del Sur, Philippines
Background
Early childhood especially in ages between three to five (3-5) years old is seen as one of the critical stages in the learning process and development of a child. Recent scientific studies suggest that the whole education and learning stages of a child is founded in the very early stage of their lives. While pre schools with modern facilities and trained teachers are sprouting in many towns and urban areas, the number of children not being served by a good pre school education is still high. Due to the lack of resources, facilities and qualified teachers, the desired early childhood education for thousands of children in the rural areas, especially Agusan del Sur, is but a dream.
Cognizant of the above realities, the proposed project hopes to contribute to the filling in of the gap between the needs of the children for a sound pre school education and the resources, facilities and personnel that would respond to the children's needs. The project aims to provide improved infrastructure, learning materials and play equipment and facilities so that the children can have a wholesome pre school learning experience and development.
The project is to be implemented in Barangay (village) Binongan, in the municipality of Veruela, Province of Agusan del Sur, in the southern island of Mindanao, Philippines. Veruela is a third (3rd) class municipality which is politically subdivided into 21 villages which includes Binongan. The village has the total land area of 2,371 hectares. The village population of 1,646 is from the 262 households and is composed of majority indigenous Agusanon and the minority migrants from other provinces of the Philippines who mainly speak Bisaya or Cebuano. The main means of livelihood in the village is farming and fishing due to the fact that rivers and creeks run through the village.
Out of 122 children ages 3-5 years old, only 37 children are enrolled in of pre-school. There are several factors that contributed to the low participation rate of children in the pre-school education aside from poverty and distance from the house to the school. We can cite the dilapidated and very small pre-school building, lack of learning materials and other relevant and needed education and play facilities and equipment. The present pre-school facilities do not have play equipment and facilities that would encourage the children to come to school. Children prefer to play by the roadside or in any other open spaces because there is no other place where they can play.
The Pre-school centennial project will bring together different stakeholders in the community. The project "Karl Kübel Birth Centennial Pre-school Project" will provide the funds for the construction of the pre-school building. JPIC-IDC with its experience of implementing similar project will likewise implement this project. The parents and the village local government will provide the lot where the centennial pre-school will be built. They will also provide the labor, both skilled and manual necessary for the construction. They also will ensure the maintenance and sustainability of the building and facilities. The municipal government will provide the furniture and fixtures in the building and they will provide for the teaching materials. The Provincial government will provide for the out door facilities and play equipments. JPIC staff and JPIC partner beneficiaries will help provide for the toys and other things needed for a wholesome and playful learning environment of the children.
The project makes parents and the village residents take responsibility of maintaining the building, materials and facilities. Part of the selection criteria of the possible beneficiary village is the commitment of the village to commit to the sustainability and maintenance of the pre-school building and its facilities. A MOA will be signed that binds the parents and the village government to allocate part of their annual government budget to support pre-school education and the maintenance of the pre-school building. The experience of JPIC implementing similar projects in other parts of the municipality shows that this system works.
