DBM set to release P1.4B for pre-school program

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is set to release over P1.4 billion to implement the government’s pre-school education program, disclosed DBM Secretary Florencio Abad on Friday. Abad added that President Benigno Aquino III wants to hasten the release of the funds, stressing that “The Aquino administration wants to improve the readiness of pre-school children before they enter grade one." Data from the DBM showed that P1.38 billion from the fund will be used for the compensation of kindergarten volunteer teachers from June to December 2011, released through the regional officer of the Department of Education (DepEd). Another P32.4 million, meanwhile, will be used for the training, monitoring and implementation of other activities connected to the programs for the current school year. The government has two kindergarten programs — the regular program, which is handled by permanent teachers who have two 25-30-pupil classes each, and a second program conducted by volunteers. Five-year-olds who do not make the cut for the regular program are placed in the second program, which is handled by teachers who are not regular DepEd employees but are nonetheless compliant with DepEd standards. According to the DBM, “teachers under this program are given an allowance amounting to P3,000 per month per class or P6,000 for a maximum of two classes with 11-30 pupils per class or 6 hours of teaching time per day; or P1,500 per month per class with 10 or less pupils in multi-grade schools." Over 1,195,439 students are enrolled in the pre-school program nationwide. Region III registered the highest pre-school enrollment in the country with 144,068 pupils while Region IV-A and Region VIII had 135,419 and 109,429 students, respectively. Meanwhile, the Cordillera Administrative Region reported lower enrollment this year with only 19,344 students. — BC/MRT/VS, GMA News