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Moro out-of-school program to address discrimination


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — A new program for Moro out-of-school Muslim youth seeks to address poverty and discrimination, officials of the Department of Education and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) told local media at the weekend. At the launch of the program here, Education Undersecretary Manaros B. Boransing said young Moros should be given the chance to be employed, but this is impossible without the proper skills. Called Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE), the program is anchored on technical-vocational education and training. Mr. Boransing noted prejudice is a perennial factor for the high unemployment rate among young Moros. "[Young Moros] from the autonomous Muslim region, Lanao provinces, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan provinces are migrating to urban areas because of poverty and violence in their communities. If Moro children become unemployable when they grow up, they could become law offenders in communities where they live." ALIVE courses, which cover 20-day competency-based training, are focused on reorienting Muslims on the Qur’an and introduction to Arabic language in preparation for overseas employment. TESDA-accredited Muslim instructors handle the courses. The courses cover mainly vocational and skills such as welding, automotive, dressmaking, food and beverage services, and cell phone repair. The project has been launched earlier in Metro Manila and has identified 38 Muslim communities nationwide that will implement the program. Project Manager Brenda B. Furugganan said they are targeting at least 200 Muslim youth. She added the project successfully helped 700 young Muslims land a job. Rogelio C. Peyuan, TESDA deputy director-general, said: "[These out-of-school youth] cannot wait four years for a diploma course. We can provide them employment through skills training as short as less than three months," Mr. Peyuan said. — Penny Lyn P. Cunanan, - BusinessWorld
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