Forum on Millenium Development Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education by 2015.

Ms. Irene Certeza-de Robles Updates on Status of Education Indicators vis-a-vis MDG 2 When children learn, nation prosper. (From World Bank forum. - See Singapore example.) Spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty. MDG = 8 international development goals that all 193 UN members adopted in 2005. Aspects: Enrollment in primary education Completion if primary education. Literacy of 15-24 year olds female and male. Net enrollment rate in elem is going up. Our target is 98.14 percent (elem). NER for secondary target is 87.7 percent. More of females are able to complete schooling, according to study - in 23 key provinces. Drop-out rate has been increasing. Completion rate is going up in elem and down in secondary. Literacy = Simple literacy vs. Functional literacy - Higher in females than males for both kinds. Simple literacy - able to read and write with understanding a simple message in any language or dialect Functional literacy - significantly higher level which include not only reading and writing but also numerical and comprehension skills DepEd Emerging Paradigm: enabling policy development - technical and logistical support (greater resource mobilization) - performance driven leadership with accountability (higher learning outcomes) - sound shared governance (quality assured basic education) Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda): School-based management, teacher education and development, national learning strategies and quality assurance and accountability, universal kindergarten and Alternative learning system, institutional culture change, resource mobilization and management -> K to 12 Curriculum Reform --> access to basic education and improved quality of basic education - EFA MDG 2015 and Learning for all 2020 DepEd is moving towards the universalization of kinder in the education ladder. - Starting early helps progressiveness of child. At least P50,000 grant is given to schools provided they have school improvement plans. Invest early. Invest smartly. Learning for all. HR Issue: Only 3000/class for preschool teachers (thus they are called "volunteer teachers") To improve access to basic education Strategies: Universalization of kinder education to reach all 5-year-old children All school children aged 6-15 years old..... Increase access to ADM to reach 1.7 M OSYs who did not graduate elementary education and 1.3 M graduated in elementary but did not go to HS Alternative Learning System will focus on addressing the 2.3 M or 100% OSYs ages 16-24 based on 2008 FLEMMS and 200000 street children by 2015

Grads of K-12 will: Acquire mastery of basic competencies. Be emotionally mature. Be socially aware, pro-active, involved in public and civic affairs. Be adequately prepped for world of work or entrepreneurship or higher education. Be legally employable with potential for better readings. Be globally competitive. What was tested? Support Options to Basic Education (SOBE) Frame Quality Ed that is globally relevant is our shared responsibility.

Ms. Ma. Isabel Ereneta 5 most impt problems: Unequal opportunities - 2 out of 10 children are out of school, more prevalent among men due to labor stuff High enrollment but low survival - over 30 percent of those who enter grade one do not finish grade 6, over 50 percent of those who enter do not finish 4th year, even worse in Mindanao. Poor quality - worst performer in asia, only 15.3 percent scored 75% in NAT, some students get up to HS without knowing how to read Under-financed education and poor budget allocation Poor governance in rigid authoritarian system - special education fund is not spent well in 'rich' areas or is not enough in 'poor' areas Synergeia - collaborative and participative programs, for accountability and transparency Look at Robredo - Naga City Components of program Education summit Teacher training Parents' training Most important/necessary: Principal who is an effective manager and a supportive school community

ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING: Making Waves in the Philippine Legal Profession

ATTY. RYAN JEREMIAH QUAN - Internship program director of AHRC AHRC Internship Program Since 1987 Proper formation of law students towards the tenets of Jesuit education Acquainted with alternative lawyering Summer Internship Program, Sem Break Internship Program, Graduate Internship Program Basic Orientation Seminar + Week-long Immersion + 5-week internship with alternative legal organization or NGO + Processing session You will only truly appreciate their plight if you live like one of them, walk their paths. - Firsthand exposure to grassroots poverty Interns get exposed to the field, to the concerns of these vulnerable

and marginalized groups. My (Short) Story Nayuyurakan pagkatao mo araw-araw. - on Law School Atty. Carlos Medina, Jr. Entrusted with teaching Fisheries Code to firsherfolk in Palawan - 1st year student Formation and human rights education Charting Paths Only program of its kind in the country - replicated in other law schools (at least four) Adopted by the alternative law groups Creating Ripples Allows students to see the face behind the law Planting the seeds of human rights advocacy Making Waves Over 800 interns since inception Lawyers in public service, law firms, academe and alternative law Common bond: passion for justice

ATTY. KRIZNA GOMEZ Internship in Mindoro Lived with the Mangyans They don't rely on established jurisprudence. They change it. Just and fair lawyers no matter what field. You won't have all doors open for you. You just want those doors you want to stay open for you. Sister: Never request and never refuse. Lawyering is not a profession, not a job. It is a vocation. The only way we can embrace our vocation in life is through total surrender. ATTY. RAYMOND SALAS ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING IN MINDANAO Kaka: there is no need to compare NGos with law firms.... Aerial Spraying Davao Mining Surigao del Norte subject to Writ of Kalikasan SALIGAN Sentro ng alternatibong lingap panligal 1987 idea: legal NGO focused on sectoral rights snd concerns - democrstiz snd empower sectors women, urban poor, workers, fsrmers and fishers, etc. strategic litigation support highlight legal literacy or alternative legal education + paralegsl formation, policy work, research and publication internship program for law students and volunteer lawyers program www.saligan.org, ISO Complex What is alternative lawyering? Lawyering - employs legal knowlege and skills, works its way through the legal system and through legal processes, and employs the law as a tool. Alternative - works on issues that are not the common concerns of

typical lawyering. In fact, the issues of concerns are not popular fields of legal practice. Related to this, there is also a different group of clientele. Employs creative strategies that are not characteristic of ordinary law practice. The alternative nature of alternative lawyering can also be seen from its critical view of the legal system itself and of the legal profession. Laws should reflect the interests of the majority, not just of lawmakers. Alternative lawyering is more than legal aid. Goal is to lessen the dependence of ordinary people on legal assistance. It is also more than public interest lawyering, it is a bias towards the poor and the marginalized. It is also more than human rights lawyering. It focuses also on social and cultural rights. Alternative lawyering is lawyering for social justice, social change, social development. Is it lawyering for the poor? No, it is lawyering WITH the poor. Atty. Marlon Manuel: When the poor and marginalized are empowered to become lawyers, when they see the law and use it as it should be - as a tool to promote justice, as a catalyst for social transformation - only then can alternative lawyering truly achieve its objectives. It is like a group of swimmers. You can never teach one to swim without him ever going into the water. He should at least dip in it. Davide: To me it is troubling that the lawyers who advocate such worthy causes are called the alternative. An alternative is a second choice. You should be considered the mainstream, the first choice, the true and ideal lawyers. Better yet, the conscience of the legal profession. I will not claim that I live and breathe alternative lawyering....

ATTY. ROMMEL ABITRIA Hindi alternative lawyering, lawyering lang. Lawyering = choice. You can go through with it or back up. Kailangan mo palang lagpasan ang sarili mo. Pagandahin ang buhay mo at ang buhay ng iba For the greater glory of God Baka makapunta kayo ng Boracay! Mangyan and Sumulao farmers Bakit pera vs. walang pera? Baka mali ang sinosolusyonan kong problema. Mas importante pala kung saan ka mas masaya, saan ka at ease, saan ka makakatulong nang mahimbing. Weird criminal justice system Cura personalis - to take care of the whole person Maaaring gumawa sila ng krimen, maaaring nakabilanggo sila, pero mga tao pa rin sila. Yung mga sistema palang inaral mo sa law school, yun dinang nakapagpapahirap sa mga ordinaryong tao, sa mga hindi nakapagaral ng law Ang pagiging abigado ay kailangan mong tignan nang wala kang maaaping tao (never mapapantayan ng pera ang dignidad ng tao) It's all about doing the right thing. Magis - do better. Cura personalis - take care of the whole person. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam - for the greater glory of God. Kailangan mong may kakayanan ka financially para makatulong ka sa iba. Hindi mo kailangang naka-yapak o maging mahirap.

Maghanap ka ng pera, makakahanap ka ng pera. Pero ang makatulong sa iba, choice yun. - mahirap na desisyon. It doesn't matter saan ka mapunta. All that matters is you do the right thing, you follow the guidelines Ateneo gave you.

LITIGATION IS NOT ALWAYS THE SOLUTION ASEAN Human Rights Declaration - Atty. Cervantes is in the drafting group. Mechanisms to change the environment, not just Philippines.