CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office X has intensified efforts to bring student beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) back to school through a localized tracking and intervention campaign.
Dubbed “Ali Na, Eskwela Ta” (Come on, Let’s Go to School), the initiative targets 4Ps families whose children either dropped out or failed to attend classes during the previous school year.
Hands-on counseling, community support
Implemented in close coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) in Northern Mindanao, the long-running campaign aims to reduce dropout rates in the months following the opening of classes.
The program relies on direct intervention, with DSWD case managers conducting counseling sessions for both parents and out-of-school children during Brigada Eskwela.
These sessions allow social workers to assess each family’s challenges and connect them with government and community partners that can provide financial, educational, or livelihood assistance.
Senior high students most affected
According to DSWD-X, senior high school students account for the highest number of dropouts among 4Ps beneficiaries.
The agency said many older students face pressure to work and help support their families, often choosing immediate income over continuing their education. Early pregnancy also remains a significant factor behind school dropouts.
Supporting the return to school
The regional initiative complements the national “Bata, Balik Eskwela” campaign of the 4Ps National Program Management Office.
By addressing the socioeconomic challenges that keep students out of school, DSWD-X hopes to help more vulnerable youth return to the classroom and complete their basic education.
