CHILDREN who experience violence at home are significantly less likely to remain in school, underscoring that the country’s education crisis often begins long before students enter the classroom.

A new study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), supported by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), found a strong link between domestic abuse and school dropout rates among Filipino children.

The research shows that children exposed to parental violence at age 10 are about half as likely to be enrolled in school by age 14 compared with those who did not experience abuse.

The discussion paper, “Early Harm, Lasting Impact: The Effect of Parental Violence on Educational Outcomes Among Filipino Children,” analyzed data from the Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child.

Authored by Aaron Carlos G. Manuel, Lyle Daryll D. Casas, and Valerie Gilbert Ulep, the study found that nearly four in 10 Filipino children, or 39.5 percent, experienced physical or emotional violence from their parents at age 10.

Researchers reported that early exposure to parental violence has profound and lasting effects on a child’s education.

After controlling for demographic, cognitive, health, and socioeconomic factors, adolescents who experienced abuse at age 10 had 52 to 57 percent lower odds of being enrolled in school by age 14.

The findings are consistent with child development theories that link domestic violence to behavioral and emotional difficulties that hinder school participation.

Gender-based analysis showed that both boys and girls face severe risks of dropping out due to violence at home.

Boys exposed to parental violence were 48 percent less likely to be enrolled by age 14, while girls were 66 percent less likely to be in school.

The authors noted that while the negative effects were evident for both sexes, the statistical association remained particularly robust for boys after accounting for data limitations.

The study also examined academic performance and found a downward trend in mathematics, reading, and science scores among adolescents exposed to violence.

However, these associations were not statistically significant, suggesting that while domestic abuse clearly affects school enrollment, its impact on academic proficiency may develop over a longer period or through pathways not fully captured by the available data.

The authors stressed that addressing the Philippines’ education crisis requires interventions beyond the classroom.

They called for sustained, multi-sectoral early intervention programs aimed at preventing domestic violence and strengthening parenting skills. Among the programs cited were the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Parent Effectiveness Service and the evidence-based Parenting for Lifelong Health initiative, locally adapted as Masayang Pamilya.