Adolescent Education program approaches in the Philippines. Presentation at SEAMEO Innotech Conference 2006

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Making Learning Meaningful for
Adolescents through an Integrated,
Life Skills-Based Approach
16 November 2006
Presented by Cecilia S. Ochoa
Education Manager, Philippines Country Office
EnhancingtheRelevanceof
SecondaryEducation

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SavetheChildren
inthePhilippines
• An international US-based child-
focused NGO working in over 40
countries worldwide
• A member of the International
Save the Children Alliance, a
global network serving 110
countries
• Has been working with and for
Filipino children, families and
communities for the past 25 years
• Mission: to create lasting positive
change in the lives of children in
need

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Whereour secondaryeducationprogramswork
ASCEND - Mindanao
Talipao
Dinas Midsayap
Datu
Piang
Taguig City
Metro Manila
ANTIQUE
ILOILO
GUIMARAS
San Remigio
Sibalom
Badiangan
Dingle
Jordan
San Lorenzo
Maasin
West Visayas

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Our YouthProgramming
Principles
• Empowerment: youth
participation and partnership
• Gender equity and reaching
vulnerable youth
• Opportunities created for and
by youth
• Positive development
approaches
• Youth-centeredness and
diversity
• Relevance in innovation
• Measurable impact
• Sustainability and Scaling-up

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“Lifeskills-based”means…
• A broad range of
personal & social
skills that include:
– Coping & self-
management skills
– Communication &
interpersonal skills
– Decision-making
and critical thinking
skills

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“Lifeskills-based”means…
• Interactive,
participatory,
experiential and
self-reflective
methods
• Adolescents need
to practice skills in
order to acquire
and apply them

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• A holistic approach that addresses
adolescents’ various dimensions
• Recognizes their right to health, education,
participation, and a chance at a better life
“Integrated”means…

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• In-school mode:
– Working with partner public high
schools to extend life skills-based
interventions to their students
• Out-of-school mode:
– After-school initiatives for in-school
adolescents and other interested youth
in the community
– Alternative Learning System (ALS)
initiatives for out-of-school children and
youth
– Employability, livelihood skills and
economic opportunities for youth
Modesof secondaryeducationprogramming

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In-school initiatives
• Integration of life skills
education messages and
approaches in public high
school lesson plans (2001-
2002)
• Life Mapping & Career
Planning workshops with
high school seniors
• Orientation sessions on
Adolescent Reproductive &
Sexual Health (ARSH)
• Establishment of
Adolescent Resource
Centers in partner public
high schools

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After-school/community-basedinitiatives
• Establishment of community
adolescent resource
centers in partnership with
LGUs
• Teen Awareness and Action
Sessions (TAAS)
• Adolescent-led community
service projects and
activities

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• Crossroads/
FREE module:
– Life skills
workshops
integrating
education
completion,
ARSH and
community
service
messages
After-school/community-basedinitiatives

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ALS initiatives
• Accreditation &
Equivalency (A&E)
opportunities for out of
school youth
• Life skills-based A&E
session guides, in
partnership with DepEd
BALS
• ALS Youth Camps

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Livelihoodskillstraining& economic
opportunities
• Short-term livelihood skills
training sessions for ALS
learners
• Productivity skills training
modules for urban poor youth,
in partnership with LGU
• Skills Training & Industry
Immersion (STII) in partnership
with Mindanao Business
Council and local chambers

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What havewelearnedfromworkingwithand
for adolescents?

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Catchthemwheretheyare
• Ensure a variety
of options to suit
their particular
situation—be
they in-school,
out-of-school,
interested in
further studies or
in entering the
world of work

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Ensuretheir involvement
andsenseofownership
• Enable them to serve
as facilitators of their
and their peers’
learning
• Engage them in
planning,
implementing and
assessing activities
• Adolescents are
assets, with worthwhile
contributions to make
to their community

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Drawfromtheir experiences, issues, interests
andcontexts
• Allow them to
explore their
creativity
• Provide avenues for
self-expression
• Link learning to
issues they face as
adolescents in a
particular context
• Keep yourself
current

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Ensureadult support, engagement &
understanding
• Educate and engage parents
• Facilitate interaction between youth and policy-
makers
• Strengthen support systems available to youth

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Their future, our commitment

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Maramingsalamat!