Kariton Klasrum to hit the streets

MANILA, Philippines - Street children and out-of-school youth can now have access to quality education after the government launched yesterday the “Kariton Klasrum” (pushcart classroom) project.  

The Departments of Education (DepEd) and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) coordinated with the group of 2009 CNN Hero Efren Peñaflorida to reach families living on the streets and out-of-school children who are beneficiaries of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT).      

“The Kariton Klasrum will ensure that every child, even street kids, will have equal opportunities to receive education,” Education Secretary Armin Luistro said.                

“This is one big push for the street children, one more push for their bright future,” Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said.     

The DSWD and DepEd hope to educate every child through traditional and alternative learning systems and to ensure that “no child will be left behind.”     

The project initially targets more than 3,000 identified street children in Metro Manila. Soliman said there are about 5,000 to 6,000 street children in the metropolis.  

Peñaflorida’s pushcart classroom caught global attention after he was named CNN Hero of the Year in 2009. He and his Dynamic Teen Company composed of young volunteers have taught basic reading and writing to street children through the pushcart classroom.