To: Bureau Directors
Regional Directors
Schools Superintendents

1. The National Statistics Office in coordination with this Department has gathered data that there are more than 1.8 million, out-of-school age children in the country (Inclosure No. 1). Included among these children could be the street children, the disabled, the malnourished, children in ethnic communities and those in difficult circumstances.
2. In recognition of the necessity and urgency of making these children enjoy the right to education which they deserve, the following guidelines are issued:
   2.1 All schools shall undertake the project “Child Find”. Data on the names of school-age children who are out of school, their addresses and reasons why they are not in school should be gathered.
   2.2 School divisions shall plan and implement educational programs responsive to the diverse needs of these children. These programs shall consider the formal system and other alternative delivery services in basic education.
   2.3 Programs and projects which have been undertaken by the Bureau of Elementary Education, Bureau of Secondary Education, the regional and the division offices and other offices and NGOs on a pilot basis and proven to be effective shall be utilized. Some of these programs and projects are found in Inclosure No. 2.
   2.4 GOs and NGOs known to have programs for school-age children shall be tapped for technical assistance in the training of teachers and other services needed.
   2.5 Needs for teachers, classrooms and textbooks relevant to the provision of educational services to the out-of-school age children shall be given priority.
3. Regional offices shall monitor and submit to the Secretary the actions taken by the division offices for the implementation of this program.
4. Immediate dissemination of and compliance with this Order is desired.

Incl.: As stated
References: None
Allotment: 1-2—(M.O. 1-87)

To be indicated in the Perpetual Index under the following subjects:
OFFICIALS
PROGRAMS
PROJECTS
SCHOOLS

DO_s1997_42