Kindergarten gets US$1.5 million grant from Japan

MARCH 23, 2012 

PRESS RELEASE

Kindergarten gets US$1.5 million grant from Japan

It’s double treat for pre-school children.

After the signing of the Kindergarten Law in January this year which requires that all five-year olds must enroll in kindergarten to properly prepare them for formal school, support comes in from the Japanese government in the form of a US$1.5 million financial assistance.

The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) will provide a grant of US$1,500,000 to enhance access to quality early childhood education in poor communities to the Department of Education (DepEd) which acts as the executing agency.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) administers the JFPR pursuant to an agreement ADB has entered into with the Government of Japan.  It will be implemented by the Aklat, Gabay, Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) Foundation. DepEd and AGAPP shall carry out the JFPR project with due diligence and efficiency as stipulated in the agreement.

The project aims to support DepEd’s K to 12 program particularly in the institutionalization of Kindergarten through classroom constructions, curriculum development and teacher trainings.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said this is a most welcome development because it affirms DepEd’s position on the importance that must be given to basic education particularly early childhood education.

“Kindergarten  is a very important building block in producing quality graduates of basic education, so we should really start on a solid footing by preparing our young learners very well,” added Luistro.

The grant will finance expanded access to kindergarten education by providing necessary school infrastructure and facilities. It will also enhance the capacity of teachers by providing them trainings and workshops.

It will likewise engage other education stakeholders in the community by building sustainable partnerships with civil society, corporate sector, and local non-government organizations (NGOs). The grant also allots provision for project monitoring and evaluation.