Out-of-school youth program launched in Cavite

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) has launched a program for out-of-school youth (OSYs) in Cavite to provide opportunities for education, employment or entrepreneurship.

DepEd undersecretary for partnerships and external linkages Mario Deriquito said the agency’s Abot-Alam program is seeking the support of local stakeholders in mapping of OSYs and providing them with various opportunities.

 “After stakeholders have agreed to work together to implement Abot-Alam in the province, the next step is to get organized and get started,” said Deriquito.

Deriquito introduced the first batch of 50 OSYs who will be enrolled in programs offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Program participants will be employed by Abot-Alam partner companies.

The DepEd division of Cavite has mapped over 6,800 OSYs in the different municipalities in the province.

DepEd said the other OSYs identified during the mapping will be offered opportunities for education through the Alternative Learning System, skills training and employment programs of TESDA and partner companies, and other entrepreneurship opportunities.

Abot-Alam envisions that there will no longer be OSYs by the end of  President Aquino’s term in 2016, said DepEd.