August 18 2003

This article announces the opening (in August 2003) of a government school in the Philippines that features television-based teaching aids. At Strong Republic School in the Mangyan community of Purnaga in Oriental Mindoro's Magsaysay town, adults from indigenous groups are educated in subjects like Nationalism and English. Each Saturday, teachers from towns travel to Purnaga for these classes.

According to the report, for years, the literacy level of the 30 or so indigenous tribal groups like the Mangyans has lagged compared to counterparts in urban areas and places more accessible to educators. (Lack of roads and the remoteness of their colonies have prevented good teachers from reaching government schools in the area). This lack of education has been blamed for these indigenous peoples' failure to secure jobs that require communication skills and literacy - a failure that contributes to their continued marginalisation.

Click here for the full article on the Gulf News site.

Summary of article forwarded to the bytesforall_readers list server on August 19 2003 (click here to access the archives).