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[av_heading heading=’Angara backs right to education of IPs’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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MANILA – Of the 14 million Filipino indigenous peoples (IP), only 2 percent ever finish college, said Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, citing a recent study.
The same study indicates that a measly 11 percent of those belonging to the indigenous population graduate from high school.
“This cannot go on,” Angara said as he urged the government to create schools for IPs and other marginalized sectors.
He also lamented that these individuals remain among the poorest and most disadvantaged Filipinos in the country.
While the government provides IP members scholarships, dropout rate among them remains high, the legislator said.
“IPs deserve the same opportunity to study as the citizens in more populated areas. The government must establish schools tailor-fit for IPs – adjusting to their customs and making sure the schools are located closer to the areas where they live,” Angara said.
Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, for his part, called on the Commission on Higher Education to encourage the youth to take courses promoting agriculture and fisheries.
Ejercito explained that only a few pursue these courses.
“Philippines is an agricultural country but the younger generation has no interest in farming or agriculture. Farmville nalang ba ang alam ng ating mga kabataan ngayon?” he added.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri also proposed for the establishment of extension campuses of state universities and colleges (SUCs) in provinces with high poverty incidence.
The Commission was also urged to adopt a radical tuition scheme for the poor.
Other SUCs, Zubiri said, should also set up tuition rates similar to the University of the Philippines’ Socialized Tuition Scheme.
“Many would grant tuition scholarships only for the deserving, or those earning high grades. That old scheme leaves out many students who need the most help which often get average to poor grades due to various reasons,” he said./PN
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