Yt Framework

Stakeholders in the education sector from the provinces of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and representatives from USAID-Philippines and member organizations who composed the Education & Livelihood Skills Alliance (ELSA) converged at Lantaka Hotel yesterday for a round-table dialogue.

The dialogue, which highlighted the stakeholders' partnership in the implementation of education programs under the ELSA 2 Project, was graced by Aivan Leo Amit, project management specialist-Office of Education of the USAID, representatives from IYF and the alliance.

It recognized the important contribution of all individuals and organizations who did their best in the successful implementation of the project and made an impact in addressing education concerns in the region.

Since it started in 2008, ELSA has strengthened the capacity of 210 PTAs and local school board (LSBs) with a total enrolment of 15,000 in training programs on planning and program as well as financial management among others.

Danilo Escabarte, communications officer of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), said the project provided access to basic education and livelihood skills training to 30,000 out of school-youths, trained and developed a cadre of 563 mentors/ facilitators for English, Science and Math to help teachers improved teaching skills in the three subject areas.

"Schools' management system is expected to be enhanced with 556 school administrators trained in professional leadership competencies. ELSA also trained 19,195 English, Math Science teachers resulting to improve methodologies in teaching ESM among students," Escabarte added.

ELSA provided 2010 community incentive grants for PTAs and OSY groups, constructed 44 classrooms and repaired 132 others, decongesting crowded classrooms and providing better learning atmosphere for students and teachers alike. At least 136 learning centers in the project sites were also refurbished as part of ELSA education initiatives.

The International Youth Foundation (IYF), Ayala Foundation, Consuelo Foundation, Petron Foundation, and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) are in close partnership with ELSA.

ELSA is a Mindanao-focused educational initiative that hopes to achieve intermediate results in education - community-based learning opportunities, improving teaching capacity for teaching Science, Math and English and promoting the integration of our-of-school youth - whose programs are being funded by USAID-Philippines through the Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS) Project.

By Hader Glang