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Tuesday, October 11, 2011

DepED bats for child friendly public schools

by Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY, Oct. 10 (PIA) -- Parents and students can now expect more child-friendly public schools.
Public school heads of Zamboanga del Norte have recently completed a training on Child Friendly School System (CFSS) aimed at bringing down the dropout rate in the elementary and secondary schools in the area.
The school heads were trained on the strategies in identifying students-at-risk of dropping out (SARDO) using the Family, Individual, Community and School (FICS) analysis tool.
Studies have shown that the reasons why some students left school are varied. “Students coming from broken homes are likely to stop schooling as nobody would take care for their needs,” said a school head who asked not to be named.
Students with special needs are also prone to dropping out of school according to special education teacher Ma. Theresa F. Dayrit at the Dipolog SPED center. “So, children with physical disabilities should not be mixed with able-bodied ones,” she said.
Conflict communities are another factor affecting the studies of the schoolchildren especially in the far-lung barangays. Students from these areas would rather leave school than risking their lives.
Training participants, on the other hand, were reminded that some students quit schooling because of the school itself. “The schools with very strict school heads and teachers drive the students away,” said Education Supervisor Ismael Yusop during the training.
In support of the DepED’s thrust of making the schools more child friendly, the school heads and teachers are to create a friendly learning environment but not compromising quality instruction.
In Zamboanga del Norte, the average dropout rate for the elementary level is less than one percent and 5.86 percent for the high school level. (JPA/FPG/PIA-Zambo. Norte)