Select Army personnel will temporarily
trade their guns for chalk and other teaching materials this year to take on a
different role as teachers
to former
street children.
to former
street children.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes on
Sunday said 25 personnel belonging to the Army’s Civil-Military Operations Group
had undergone formal training as members of the
first batch of the soldiers-as-teachers program dubbed as “Pinoy Batang Bayani.”
of the
first batch of the soldiers-as-teachers program dubbed as “Pinoy Batang Bayani.”
For the next nine months, he said the
soldiers would handle pilot classes and teach Araling
Panlipunan (Social Studies) to rescued street children staying at Tuloy
Foundation Inc. (TFI) in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
Araling
Panlipunan (Social Studies) to rescued street children staying at Tuloy
Foundation Inc. (TFI) in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
According to Coballes, the program is part
of the military’s Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP)
Bayanihan, the Armed Forces’ anti-insurgency blueprint.
Plan (IPSP)
Bayanihan, the Armed Forces’ anti-insurgency blueprint.
“[The soldiers] will share their expertise
in imbibing the spirit of nationalism and love of country among these children every
Tuesday and Thursday… for the duration of the current school year,” the Army
chief said in a statement.
every
Tuesday and Thursday… for the duration of the current school year,” the Army
chief said in a statement.
The program will be formally launched on
Monday at the foundation’s center, which is home to close to 1,000 former street
children.
“Chosen subjects to be taught are aimed to
instill discipline, values formation and character development that will
reinforce the spirit of patriotism, love of country and nationalism through
classroom instruction,” Coballes said.
He said the classroom discussions would be
“complemented by outdoor activities that will enhance the use of their
imagination by the street children.”
Coballes expressed confidence the Army’s
“unique undertaking and partnership” with TFI would “contribute to the
fulfillment of the goals of IPSP Bayanihan.”
He said TFI’s “Aral Program” had been
approved by the Department of Education to provide
“in-house, nonformal education classes” using the Alternative Learning System
modules.
to provide
“in-house, nonformal education classes” using the Alternative Learning System
modules.
Fr. Rocky Evangelista, TFI founder and
president, said the foundation’s joint project with the Army was “envisioned to
be a model template” for other nongovernment organizations involved in youth
rehabilitation and education.
“[Providing education to] street children
with varied upbringing [and] experiences… needs order, discipline and direction.
Hence, the military’s unique disciplinary practices [would help us] realize the
TFI’s vision and mission of keeping the rescued street children off the streets
for good and transforming them into responsible and contributing members of
society,” Evangelista said.
“[The] foundation’s comprehensive program
[aims] to empower these children so they can regain their self-worth,
self-dignity and self-respect,” he added.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/431659/soldiers-turn-teachers-in-alabang
I would expect CPP front organizations like the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) or the New Patriotic Alliance (BAYAN--Bagong Alyansang Makabayan) to attack this program. The military effort appears to be designed to indoctrinate poor youth in pro-democracy (and anti-communist) principles. This is clearly an effort to deter communist attempts to recruit disadvantaged urban youth.
ReplyDelete