SAVE the Children Philippines welcomed the signing by President Rodrigo Duterte of the Alternative Learning System law that will remove barriers to children’s learning and development.

Republic Act 11510 seeks to institutionalize the Alternative Learning System to provide access to education for children who have disabilities, out-of-school children and youth, children from indigenous peoples’ groups and those in conflict with the law, and those in the disadvantaged sector.

“Inclusivity is critical in upholding the right of every child to access quality education that will support the development of their personality, talents, mental and physical abilities and achieve their fullest potential,” Atty. Alberto Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines, said.

Muyot said children in disadvantaged sectors experience compounding issues on hunger and malnutrition, lack of access to learning, and are the most prone to abuses and exploitation. These are further exacerbated by the risks of Covid19.

“We welcome the enactment of the law that aims to address education and development needs of children and youth, and opens opportunities for context-specific learning models fit for the intersectional needs of learners,” Muyot said.

Save the Children Philippines partnered with the Education-Network Philippines in pushing for the enactment of the law.

The group pioneered the program KASALI or “Kabataang Aralin sa Lahat Ibahagi” which provides children with disabilities access to quality inclusive and protective education.

The project, which was implemented in poor communities in Metro Manila, won the prestigious Zero Project Award from the Vienna-based Essl Foundation. The award recognizes projects with the most innovative and effective solutions to the problems of persons with disabilities throughout the world.

Save the Children Philippines also implements Education in Emergencies for children and youth displaced by lingering gun battles in Mindanao and those affected by disasters.