Philippines:
Improving Educational Access and Quality in Conflict-affected
Areas
Philippines
September 2004-August 2005
 Once
heralded as one of the best education systems in Southeast
Asia, the education sector in the Philippines has deteriorated
in recent years due to an economic downturn, rapid population
growth, and, on the island of Mindanao, ongoing violent conflict.
As a result, the Muslim and indigenous peoples of Mindanao
suffer from poverty, alienation, limited education and training
opportunities, and poor prospects for employment and economic
advancement.
In order to improve education and to support
the peace process in Mindanao, USAID/Philippines designed the
EQuALLS Project
(Education Quality and Access to Learning and Livelihood Skills)
with four objectives: increased community-based formal and
nonformal learning opportunities; improved teaching of reading,
English, math, and science; reintegration of out-of-school
youth into a peaceful, productive economy; and institutional
capacity building for policy reform. BEPS is working closely
with USAID/Philippines to implement project activities in Mindanao
and to help coordinate substantial resources leveraged from
public-private alliances of civil society, mass media, and
the corporate sector. BEPS is also collaborating with its partner
SEAMEO-INNOTECH to implement this groundbreaking project.
It
is hoped that improved prospects for education and employment
will help Mindanaoan communities--after decades of conflict--achieve
their aspirations for tolerance, economic growth, and peace.
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