(MENAFN- EIN Presswire) PHILIPPINES, March 12 - Press Release
March 11, 2023
Gatchalian: Give adolescent mothers second chance to continue education
Aside from sustaining the effort to curb teenage pregnancy through effective reproductive health education, Senator Win Gatchalian pressed that it is equally important for the government to support the reintegration of adolescent mothers to the education system.
Gatchalian made this call amidst the celebration of the National Women's Month this March. He emphasized the need to support adolescent mothers since they tend to drop or discontinue their education after giving birth. Gatchalian cited the role of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) to continue the provision of learning opportunities to adolescent mothers.
Under the Alternative Learning System Act (Republic Act No. 11510), which Gatchalian authored and sponsored, the ALS was institutionalized and strengthened to provide increased opportunities for out-of-school children in special cases and adult learners, including indigenous peoples, to develop basic and functional literacy and life skills and pursue an equivalent pathway to complete basic education.
According to the 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS5) by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI), there has been a dramatic decline in the number of female youths aged 15 to 19 who have ever been pregnant. From 14.4% in 2013, the percentage of female youth aged 15 to 19 who have ever been pregnant in 2021 was 7.2%
The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), however, remains concerned that pregnancies among adolescents aged 10 to 14 remain high. In 2021, 2,299 young Filipinas aged 10 to 14 gave birth, just slightly lower than the 2,534 from the same age group who gave birth in 2020.
Under the 2023 national budget, P10 million is allocated for the social protection program for adolescent mothers and their children. The program will include strategies and interventions developed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the POPCOM, and other relevant agencies.
'Isa sa mga epekto ng maagang pagbubuntis sa mga batang kababaihan ang pagtigil nila sa pag-aaral at ang kawalan ng oportunidad na magkaroon ng maayos na hanapbuhay. Habang patuloy nating sinusugpo ang maagang pagbubuntis, mahalagang itaguyod din natin ang kapakanan ng mga batang ina upang mabigyan sila ng pangalawang pagkakataong magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan,' said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
Gatchalian: Mga batang ina bigyan ng pangalawang pagkakataong ipagpatuloy ang edukasyon
Maliban sa patuloy na pagsugpo ng maagang pagbubuntis sa pamamagitan ng epektibong reproductive health education, isinusulong ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang pagbibigay ng pangalawang pagkakataon sa mga batang ina upang maipagpatuloy ang kanilang edukasyon.
Ipinanawagan ito ni Gatchalian sa gitna ng pagdiriwang ng National Women's Month ngayong Marso. Aniya, kailangang suportahan ang mga batang ina lalo na't mataas ang posibilidad na matigil sila sa pag-aaral matapos nilang manganak. Ibinahagi ni Gatchalian ang mahalagang papel ng Alternative Learning System (ALS) para patuloy na mabigyan ng pagkakataong makapag-aral ang mga batang ina.
Sa ilalim ng Alternative Learning System Act (Republic Act No. 11510) na isinulong ni Gatchalian, institutionalized na at pinalawak na ang ALS upang mabigyan ang mga out-of-school children in special cases at mga nakatatandang mga mag-aaral, kabilang ang mga indigenous peoples, ng pagkakataong magkaroon ng basic at functional literacy at life skills. Mandato rin ng naturang batas na mabigyan ang mga mag-aaral na ito ng mga alternatibong paraan upang makatapos ng basic education.
Ayon sa 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS5) ng University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI), patuloy ang pagbaba ng mga kaso ng maagang pagbubuntis ng mga kababaihang may edad na 15 hanggang 19. Mula 14.4% noong 2013, 7.2% na lamang ng mga batang kababaihan sa naturang age group ang nabuntis noong 2021.
Ngunit nababahala pa rin ang Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) na nananatiling mataas ang bilang ng mga batang inang may edad na 10 hanggang 14. Noong 2021, 2,299 na mga babaeng may edad na 10 hanggang 14 ang nanganak, mas kaunti nang bahagya sa 2,534 na naitala noong 2020.
Sa ilalim ng 2023 national budget, P10 milyon ang nakalaan para sa social protection program para sa adolescent mothers at kanilang mga anak. Bahagi ng programa ang mga estratehiya at hakbang na binalangkas ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), POPCOM, at iba pang mga ahensya.
'Isa sa mga epekto ng maagang pagbubuntis sa mga batang kababaihan ang pagtigil nila sa pag-aaral at ang kawalan ng oportunidad na magkaroon ng maayos na hanapbuhay. Habang patuloy nating sinusugpo ang maagang pagbubuntis, mahalagang itaguyod din natin ang kapakanan ng mga batang ina upang mabigyan sila ng pangalawang pagkakataong magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan,' ani Gatchalian, Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education.