Filipino children in Sabah to benefit from greater access to education

MANILA, Philippines - The government signed an agreement with six alternative learning centers to enhance the quality of education of Filipino children in Sabah, the subject of a territorial dispute between the Philippines and Malaysia.

The agreement seeks to improve the capacity of the learning centers to provide basic literacy to Filipino children who have no access to regular education.

This will be done through capacity-building activities, professional, technical and administrative advice and the provision of learning and instructional materials.

The memorandum of understanding was signed last Aug. 26 by Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya, Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chair Imelda Nicolas, Education Undersecretary Mario Deriquito and representatives of the alternative learning centers.

“DepEd (Department of Education) remains committed in ensuring that the most disadvantaged, vulnerable, and marginalized are given preferential attention, including our brothers and sisters in Sabah,” Deriquito said.

The educational institutions that are parties to the agreement were Learning Translation and Review Centre, Persatuan Kebajikan Pendidikan Kanak-Kanak Miskin (The Society for Education of Underprivileged Children), Sekolah Sukarela Persatuan MAFIL-KOFA, Stairway to Hope Learning Center, Stairway to Success Learning Center, and Vision of Hope Learning Center.

More than 2,200 Filipino children are enrolled in these learning centers.

“Filipino children in Sabah are in a precarious situation and our initiatives are mere first steps in a long journey,” Malaya said.  

"We are hopeful that with the dedication of all stakeholders, we will be able to transform through education the lives of these children for the better,” he added.

DepEd is optimistic that the community-based education program will address illiteracy among school-aged Filipino learners in Sabah especially those who cannot afford to pay tuition in private schools.

The program will be carried out in cooperation with non-government organizations, parents of the learners, and Filipino community volunteers.