IOM, in partnership with the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration and the Department of Education, today launched a
pilot secondary education subsidy scheme for the children of
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and other disadvantaged youth.

The initiative aims to keep up to 250 children in secondary
school over the next two school years, who would have otherwise
dropped out or not enrolled for financial reasons.

The scheme, which will provide a monthly allowance of PHP 1,000
(USD 21.50) for transport, food and other expenses, and PHP 500
(USD 10.75) for school-related fees, will target participating
public high schools in Masbate, Antique, Agusan del Sur and
Maguindanao.

The national secondary school drop out rate in the Philippines
is close to 8 per cent and is usually attributed to poverty, an
inability to pay school fees and pressure to contribute to the
family income. 

The subsidy scheme is part of a Joint Programme "Alternatives to
Migration: Decent Jobs for Filipino Youth" supported by the
Spanish-funded MDG Achievement Fund and implemented jointly by IOM,
ILO, UNICEF and UNFPA.

For more information, please contact:

Ricardo Casco

IOM Manila

Tel: + 63.2.848.1260. Ext. 180

E-mail: "mailto:rcasco@iom.int">rcasco@iom.int