Educating the Poorest of the Poor Boys in Conflict Zones: The Role of Peace and Development Programs

• Main Authors: Magno, Francisco, Oplas, Ma. Ella, Tiongco, Marites M.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: Conditional Cash Transfers; Education Inequality; Conflict-Affected Areas; Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps); Gender Disparities in Education; PAMANA Program; Economics
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/ber/vol34/iss1/9
• Institution: De La Salle University

Ensuring the continuous education of children from low-income families poses a considerable challenge, one that is aggravated twofold in conflict-affected areas. Despite the challenges, the Philippine government has persisted in educating the poorest of the poor through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). It provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor households. Households receive cash grants if children enroll in school and attend classes, as well as get regular health check-ups and vaccines. This study compared the simple dropout rate of 4Ps child beneficiaries in conflict and nonconflict areas. Conflict areas in this context are found within the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA or Peaceful and Resilient Communities) Program’s “conflict zones.” PAMANA is a national convergence program for peacebuilding, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and development in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas. Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on the 4Ps child beneficiaries were utilized in this study. It described the situation of the poorest of the poor children in terms of the simple dropout rate from 2015 to 2020. It examined whether there is a difference in performance according to gender. The data indicates that boys dropped out more than girls.