Educational kits given to pre-schoolers

CEBU, Philippines - At least P2 million worth of educational kits have been distributed to thousands of preschoolers in the 1,532 day-care centers in Cebu, which have been provided by the Philippine Councilors’ League–Cebu Chapter.

PCL-Cebu Chapter Federation president and Provincial Board Member Carmen Remedios “Ivy” Durano-Meca said that the educational kits contained storybooks, cassette players, reference books, educational toys, visual materials and 140 songs appropriate for pre-school children.

Starting this June, Durano-Meca said the educational materials can help prepare the pre-schoolers for the K+12 program set for implementation by the DepEd.

The pre-school learning is preparatory to elementary education.

According to Durano-Meca, the distribution of the educational tool kits began around July last year to the different towns and component cities of the province.

There are at least 30 pre-schoolers in a class in the different day-care centers, this is learned.

Out these 1,532 day-care centers, however, only 132 have been accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

PCL said the upgrading of day care centers in the province is one of their advocacies, so these have to pass the standards set by the DSWD.

Durano-Meca, said that only 132 of the province’s 1,572 day care centers have passed the standards set by DSWD for day care centers and some of these, she said, are not even functioning at all.

Meca said the PCL will work with the heads of local government units and the private sector in upgrading these day care centers to be able to better and effectively serve children in the province. (FREEMAN)