Education Opportunity

The Crisis

The quote “idle hands are the devil’s workshop” can best describe the current situation on the streets of the Philippine city of Davao.  There are certainly too many idle hands, belonging mainly to youth who have not completed their secondary education and are without a job or purpose, and whose days are spent roaming the streets.  Hundreds of young people have been killed by vigilante groups in the past year with thousands more in jail and thousands failing to reach their potential because of a lack of education.

^{These youth are our neighbors in Agdao, and are always hanging around House of Jubilee with us because most of them have no opportunity for work or schooling}

According to statistics from the Philippines Department of Education, only 48% of students entering elementary school obtain a high school diploma.  Another recent study tells us that Mindanao has a 54% elementary completion rate, 20% lower than Luzon (the island in which Manila is located) and 13% lower than the national average.  Daily, we see the results of this statistic in the large numbers of youth and adults who are unable to find work. 
 
For the lucky ones who are able to go school, there are still challenges.  Because of the lack of funding for public schools, classes experience a shortage of books, staff, and materials.  Average class sizes range from 50-60 students per class.   Many students also fail to complete their studies as they are unable to afford costs associated with school, such as uniforms, school supplies, and transportation, or are needed at home to care for younger siblings.

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