THE Department of Education (DepEd) is on track to decrease the number of dropouts by 30 percent in 2010 by aggressively addressing the problem of absenteeism owing to undernourishment, which was seen to be a major deterrent to consistent productivity of students.

On Friday the DepEd, together with the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) and the Department of Trade and Industry, signed an agreement and launched the “Kabisig Kalahi,” which is designed to further push supplementary programs and decrease the dropout rates of Grade 1 and 2 pupils by next year.

A total of P6 million has been allotted for the project at P60,000 per school.

NCC is a public-private task force committed to improve the country’s international competitiveness to the top third by 2010.

“The council will coordinate the program implementation in target areas provided by the DepEd and source out funds for this endeavor,” Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said.

Kabisig Kalahi, a nonprofit organization that invests in health and education of children in the poorest communities in the country, will conceptualize the working details of the program, link with sponsors and manage the funds.

“Malnutrition is one of the most unabated health problems among public-elementary school children,” Lapus said during the launching.

He noted that currently 16 percent of the pupils in public schools are undernourished.

As the implementing arm of the program, the “Pasiglahin and Estudyanteng Pinoy” was crafted, which is geared toward improving the nutritional status of target beneficiaries, as well as improve the rentention rate in Grades 1 and 2.

“We hope that this partnership will be sustained in the five regions and expanded to other areas of the country,” Lapus added.

Beneficiaries of the program include the National Capital Region (NCR), Region IV-A, Region IV-B, Region VI, and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

All in all, Lapus said at least 20 schools per region will benefit in the program.

“The program will run for 12 days and benefit 30 school children in 100 schools,” he said.

As part of the DepEd’s supplementary program, it has improved its Food for School Program by distributing a kilo of rice daily to pupils and this has increased attendance of students by 12 percent, from 85 percent to 95 percent during school year 2007-2008.

“Through the supplementary feeding program, we also hope that the partner organizations provide venue for the private sector to participate in a venture that will support the youth and contribute in nation-building,” Lapus added. --Z. Solmerin