Philippines
Basic education in the Philippines is severely underfunded and mismanaged. Classrooms are lacking, teachers are not adequately trained, and students grapple with malnutrition and poverty, especially in geographically isolated areas.
The severity of disasters brought about by climate change worsens these conditions since schools are often disrupted due to extreme heat, rain and other hazards. Schools are also often used as evacuation areas during disasters, extending the period in which students cannot attend school. Despite these conditions, Filipinos continue to persevere since finishing school is a key priority for families and seen as a gateway out of poverty
13% of the poorest in the Philippines are college educated as opposed to 85% of the country’s richest.
一 UNESCO, 2022
Nearly 1 in 5 in the Philippines live below the national poverty line.
一 Asian Development Bank, 2024
Manila, the country's capital, is in Luzon in the north, and it is the cultural and economic hub. Modern and urbanized, Metro Manila also has one of the world’s highest rates of population density with 21,265 people per square kilometer.
People tend to flock to the area looking for better opportunities from the South, which is agriculture-based, rural and poorer. The island's makeup has historically made transportation infrastructure difficult and expensive, contributing to inequality.
The Philippines is an archipelago of over 7641 islands in three geographic clusters: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The geographic make-up has posed some challenges to this second largest island nation
Tiyara will stand in the gap, equipping scholars from poorer populations to gain a college education as a pathway to elevating themselves, their families and their communities.
Will you join us?