The Department of Education is going full throttle in implementing its essential health care program (EHCP) among public school children to improve their academic performance and reduce drop-out rate.
“Health concerns and poverty are the two major causes of low school performance and drop out rate, prompting us to prioritize these two issues,” Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said.
The EHCP is a simple, cost-effective school-based health program of DepEd in partnership with the local government units, the private sector and other community stakeholders.
Lapus disclosed that there are over 600,000 children in public elementary schools and daycare centers who have benefited from the program. Under the EHCP, each child gets a kit that has a toothbrush, soap, deworming tablets and access to toothpaste. The kit which costs P25 per child per year is given free.
“Part of the strategy to improve the school children’s performance is keeping them healthy especially in this time of Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic.”
The EHCP also aims to reduce diarrhea incidence by 30-40%, reduce respiratory infections by 20-30%, reduce worm infections by 50%, reduce dental caries by 40-50%, and reduce infection in the mouth by 50%.
DepEd hopes that with the EHCP in place, school attendance would improve by 20% and so is academic performance. “The quality of health of the pupils determines their academic performance,” Lapus said.
DepEd, DOH and UP studies showed that diarrhea and respiratory tract infections are leading cause of death among school children. It also revealed that 67% of children are infected with intestinal worms and 97% have tooth decay, with toothache as the main reason for absenteeism in school.
“Not many realize their huge impact on the physical and mental development of children, their school attendance, their school performance and ultimately their quality of life,” Lapus said.
EHCP is taught in schools and daycare centers as venues for health promotion and behavior change. They are the most appropriate places to reach children in a structured and organized way
To help boost the academic performance of public elementary schools, the city schools division has adapted the Text2Teach program, a private sector-led program that utilizes mobile technology for education.
City Mayor Delfin Ting, Schools Division superintendent Dr. Lorna Manuis and Mr. Mario Deriquito of Ayala Foundation have signed the Memorandum of Agreement to adapt the program in 16 public elementary schools in Tuguegarao City.
The Text2Teach evolved from original satellite based delivery to a full cellular platform using 3G enabled devices and the phone is equipped with an application called “Nokia Education Delivery (NED)”.
The program allows the teacher to select from the 387 education videos on Math, Science and English, specifically created for the project to provide a highly effective visual aid for teachers. It is also an opportunity to create interactive, student-focused learning environment in the classroom. The videos are watched using the 29-inch television sets provided by the project.
Furthermore, the lesson plans that come with the teachers’ guides are fully integrated into the basic education curriculum. They were created to meet local education guidelines and standards.
During the turn over, representatives from Nokia Philippines, Globe Telecom, SEAMEO Innotech and Kolin Philippines International, Inc. have distributed mobile phones, pre-paid SIM cards and 29-inch colored television sets to the recipient schools.
Through the Text2Tecah program, the City Schools Division is hoping for more improvement in the academic performance of public elementary schools in terms of national achievement level.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said through a message read by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, that investing in human resource, particularly in education, is tantamount to giving the future generation a ticket to a better life.
The President’s message was read during the recognition rites for the 2009 Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) yesterday morning at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang.
“My administration gives premium to education because investment in human resource is one of the best investments for any country,” Ermita quoted the President in her message.
Through the Department of Education (DepEd), the President said various scholarship programs and jobs expo have been providing employment and other opportunities to thousands of youth every year in the state colleges and universities (SUCs) and through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The President said her “One Town, One Scholar” program has ensured that the best public high school graduate from each of the country’s 1,500 municipalities, especially those who have no financial means, will get a college education starting June this year.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) allocated some P46 million from its existing budget for the program that started June this year, while succeeding funding requirement for the town scholars would be incorporated under CHED’s annual proposed budget.
As a signatory to the “One Town, One Scholar” program, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) has expressed support to the CHED’s plan to double or even triple the number of town scholars depending on the capacity of member municipalities.
The President said these programs will provide enough opportunities and a ticket to a better life for the country’s youth.
Before reading the President’s message, Ermita led the awarding rites for the 2009 TOSP winners who were selected from among the 33 finalists.
The 2009 TSOP were Roger Flores of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA); Miguel Antonio Garcia (University of San Carlos, Cebu City); Aidel Paul Belamide (UP Los Banos); Ann Crusit (University of Bohol); Paul John Gesta (Univesity of Cebu); Adrian Clarc Mundin (Ateneo de Manila University); Stacy Danika Alcantara (Silliman University); Stephen Alexeus Baltazar (University of San Carlos); Nicole Marie Villarojo (De La Salle University); and Carlos Gerogalin Jr. (West Negros University).
Assisting Ermita were CHED Chairman Emmanuel Angeles, RFM Foundation chairman Jose Ma. Concepcion III, Jose “JoeCon” Concepcion Jr. and National Book Store president Alfredo Ramos.
TOSP is an annual nationwide search that started in 1961 which honors outstanding Filipino students who have excelled not only in their studies but also in fulfilling their social responsibilities.
The TOSP is organized by the RFM Foundation in cooperation with CHED and National Book Store.
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