Premium on education
The Australian government puts a premium on education in its aid program to the Philippines, allocating P2 billion to the sector out of its P4.7 development assistance program for 2011.
For the 2011 Brigada Eskwela, the embassy committed around P70,000 worth of aid each to 50 schools—20 in Metro Manila and 30 in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“We provide cash grants to schools to help them buy needed equipment that will provide the best possible learning environment for students,” Smith explained, adding they will also be farming out cleanup and repair volunteers to at least eight schools in Metro Manila and six schools in ARMM.
The embassy’s Brigada Eskwela stint is just a small part of their campaign for better education in the Philippines. Smith said the Australian government this year will be providing support in teacher-training, school-based management practice, education planning and management systems; providing 120 scholarships for higher education; assisting in developing culturally-responsive education curricula; and building school facilities, “especially in Muslim Mindanao where we see the need is greatest.”"
For the 2011 Brigada Eskwela, the embassy committed around P70,000 worth of aid each to 50 schools—20 in Metro Manila and 30 in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“We provide cash grants to schools to help them buy needed equipment that will provide the best possible learning environment for students,” Smith explained, adding they will also be farming out cleanup and repair volunteers to at least eight schools in Metro Manila and six schools in ARMM.
The embassy’s Brigada Eskwela stint is just a small part of their campaign for better education in the Philippines. Smith said the Australian government this year will be providing support in teacher-training, school-based management practice, education planning and management systems; providing 120 scholarships for higher education; assisting in developing culturally-responsive education curricula; and building school facilities, “especially in Muslim Mindanao where we see the need is greatest.”"
