UE 101 - The Child & Adolescent Learner & Learning Principles

Task No. 2 - REACTION PAPER

Situation No. 1:
She lives in Payatas. Life is hard in a garbage town. At such young age
children collect and sell garbage. Despite the danger they are forced to work.
Many have had accidents and died. When typhoon Ketsana came, her house was
destroyed. Her mom lost her job. With no house and no money for food, Michelle
and her siblings could not go to school anymore. Twelve-year-old Marian is one
of the millions of Filipino children whose education has taken a backseat due to
poverty. The fifth of eight children, she fled her home when she was 10 because
she said her jobless parents hurt her.

Reaction:

Situation no. 1 reveals the connection between poverty and lack of

education among children. It actually exposes the impact of poverty on the lives
of the children specifically towards their education. And this is one of the major
problems in the Philippines because poverty is one of the main causes of the
country’s poor education record. However, poverty can be be resolved through
education because education is the most powerful weapon that can be used to
change the world. And this claim is supported by to Arvind Kejriwal (n.d.) that
education is the antidote to poverty.

Based on the situation, it shows that the family and the children belong to
the poverty level since they are extremely poor, in which they don’t have enough
money in order to buy their basic needs. It is poverty that led the family to stay
and work in Payatas because of their belief that it can help sustain their needs.
It is poverty that forced children to work at a young age despite the dangers that
they will encounter. It is indeed poverty that causes children unable to go to
school because these children prefer to work in order to feed their body instead
of feeding their mind. Thus, poverty generally deprived them their right to
education. It is sad to note that billions of children have experienced nightmares
of poverty because these children will resort to prostitution, making the
incidence of child prostitution to increase and not only that, there will be an
increase in child trafficking, increase drug abuse and increase child labor.

So how can we stop and help these children? I believed we already have
enough budget for education since there is an annual increase in the budget for
basic education. I also believed that the Government and the Non-government
agencies have established intervention programs in order to mitigate the effects
of poverty.
 Hence, as a teacher, I can be of help in my own little ways through
empowering these children to go to school in coordination with the government
and non-government offices with their programs. Empowering the out-of-school
youth and children to be in school so that they will realize that education will
help end poverty because, with basic education, parents learn more about how
to care for themselves and their families, which in turn leads their children
towards healthier lifestyles. It also provides everyone an opportunity for a job
and makes them understand the needs and demands of the people. It also
creates a job for everyone. Therefore, a population that is better educated
has less unemployment, reduced dependence on public assistance programs,
and greater tax revenue. Education also plays a key role in the reduction of
crime, improved public health, and greater political and civic engagement. Thus,
education is the key to opportunity, it’s a ticket out of poverty.

References:

Charity:ed Philippines (2020). How poverty affects education in the Philippines.

Retrieved Sep. 9, 2022, from https://nextstepph.com/how-poverty-affects-
the-education-in-the-philippines/

Meron, N. (n.d.). How poverty affects education in the Philippines. Retrieved Sept.
9, 2023, from https://www.truevolunteer.org/how-poverty-affects-
education-in-the-philippines/

Ultrabyte (2019). Education is the Best Weapon to fight Against Poverty.

Retrieved Sept. 9, 2023, from https://www.ultrabyteit.com/education-is-
the-best-weapon-to-fight-against-poverty/

Kudroli Foundation (2019). How does Poverty Affect Education. Retrieved Sept. 9,
2023, from https://www.kudroli.org/blogs/how-does-poverty-affect-
education#:~:text=Children%20from%20families%20with%20lower,%2C%20sports%2
C%20and%20cooperative%20play.