Implementing Agency

Bureau of Non-formal Education (BNFE), Department of Education
3rd Floor, Mabini Building, DECS Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City
Phone: (632) 6355189, 6355188, 6321361 (local 2079)
Fax: (632) 6355191, 6316922

SEAMEO INNOTECH
(Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology)
Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Phone: 632-924-7681 to 84
Fax: 632-921-0224, 928-7692

Literacy and NFE situation

The Philippines achieved literacy rate of 94.9% by 2000, with female literacy rate of 94.8% and male literacy rate of 95.1%.  However, about 2.4 million adults still remain as illiterate, and the literacy rates are lower in some regions.  For example, the literacy rate in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was 73.5% in 1994, while most of other regions marked over 90%.

The Bureau of NFE (BNFE) has been actively conducting functional literacy and NFE programmes in collaboration with a large number of local partners such as NGOs, despite the limited government budget allocated to NFE sector (0.07% of total education budget in 2002).  The Functional Education and Literacy Program (FELP) has been implemented through 154 service providers which include NGOs, local government units, private and state colleges and universities.  The NFE Accreditation and Equivalency System (NFE A&E) has been implemented through 76 such service providers.  The NFE A&E was awarded the UNESCO International NOMA Literacy Prize in 2000, as an innovative programme to institutionalize the alternative learning system for the out-of-school youth and adults.

CLC Initiatives and Features

In 2000, BNFE started the CLC activities in 2 selected pilot project sites which were economically depressed and with relatively high rate of illiteracy, in Ilocos Norte in Regions I and Cagayan in Region II, with support of UNESCO Bangkok.  Two pilot CLCs have been implemented with support of GOs, NGOs, Academe, people’s organizations, public and private sectors in terms of resource and material mobilization, local and community participation and policy directions.

Under the guidance of SEAMEO INNOTECH and with support from UNESCO, the Sulong San Agustin Foundation launched the new CLC project in Barangay San Agustin, Quezon City from 2002, with particular focus on utilization of ICT for community income generating activities.  The first CLC was set up as the nodal centre in 2002, and 3 satellite CLC centres were set up in 2003 to improve access to CLC training programme.  Planning and management of CLCs activities are conducted in cooperation with the Rural Improvement Club, which consist of community women as members.

Main Activities

The CLCs in Region I and II under BNFE have been developed to function as the multi-purpose venues for community people’s participation in decision-making and community activities such as income generating projects, livestock raising, interpersonal skills development training, recreation, library, and information dissemination center for formal and nonformal education system.

Main activities of the newly-established San Agustin CLCs are skills training such as hair dressing, gardening, food processing, sewing, soap making and candle making.  The CLC also conducts post-training programme assistance to the graduates to improve their livelihood projects.  ICT equipment has been recently purchased and will be utilized for future CLC activities.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The CLCs have successfully provided venues for people’s participation in defining the socio-economic and political agenda of the community, and gained recognition and popularity among other GOs, NGOs, and civil society in the CLC project areas.  The main challenge lies in the limited financial and materials resources and technical and leadership capacity of CLCs to further expand and promote their activities.

Future Plans

Future plans include:
- Expansion of CLCs in 16 regions of the country
- Strengthening advocacy and social mobilization activities for NFE field officials on CLC
- Capacity building of all CLC leaders and personnel
- Conduct action and impact research
- Strengthening resource generation
- Organization of national/cluster workshop to raise awareness among implementers