THE World Bank is preparing $2.75 million in financing to help reduce the number of out-of-school youth in the Bangsamoro region.
The bank, in a document dated Feb. 23, said the No Bangsamoro Child Left Behind project aims to reduce the number of school dropouts by 35% and increase re-enrollments by 30%.
Financing for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao project will be sourced from the Japan Social Development Fund, which provides grants to support poverty reduction projects.
Beneficiaries include an estimated 29,100 children aged six to 11 years old over three school years.
Of that total, 22,500 are out of school and 6,600 are at-risk children currently in school.
The project will be rolled out in 100 pilot elementary schools in Lanao Del Sur, including Marawi City.
“With the project interventions, the elementary graduation rate is expected to improve by 3% by the end of the project period. It is also estimated that 350 households per year will improve their livelihood by earning incomes contributing to the school feeding program,” the World Bank said.
The project will mobilize community and school members to assess the causes of the drop outs, find local solutions, and enforce remedial measures.
“The project will also offer seed funds to organize a school feeding program that can benefit both students and households,” the World Bank said.
“By contributing labor and/or ingredients for the program, household members could earn incomes, while students could have access to nutritious food at school.”
The report noted underfunding for education in the region, which means that learning has fallen behind the national average.
The Department of Finance has said that Japan has been extending loans and grants supporting the Mindanao peace process, including road network projects in areas affected by conflict and agriculture livelihood assistance.
Meanwhile, the European Union last week agreed to a €20.2-million (P1.17 billion) grant that will support agriculture businesses in the Bangsamoro region.
The five-year program will help farmers and cooperatives use integrated farming methods that will improve their ability to increase the quantity and quality of their produce. — Jenina P. Ibañez
