Aim

To aid sponsors in understanding letters from the children and reports from social workers.

Introduction

Schooling in the Philippines is officially free; however there are many extra charges and costs making it very expensive, if not unaffordable, for many.  This is especially the case once a child reaches College/University age as the price of such education increases dramatically.

Order of Grades

Not all children are able to go to college. Those who do either do a vocational course (practical in nature lasting 2 years), or a regular degree course (4 or sometimes 5 years)

Yearly Schedule

January

February

March              Graduation ceremonies. Graduations are very important occasions for the child.

April                 Summer vacation/holiday

May                 Summer vacation/holiday (children must enrol in May each year)

June                 Start of all classes (first semester starts at College/University)

June to October is normally the Monsoon Season

August             (A small number of institutions start their school year this month)

November       (second semester starts at most Colleges/Universities)

December       Christmas holiday starts during 3rd week

General notes

  • Children who started their education later, or who have fallen behind due to having to redo years, are often working in classes with much younger children.  For example, a child could be fifteen, but still in elementary/primary school. College or University isn’t normally a viable option for such children.
  • Marks at school are often awarded for handing in an assignment, not necessarily for the quality of the work submitted. This is not the case at College/University.

Elementary/Primary School

  • Elementary children receive a report card 4 times per year with their exam results
  • The accumulated marks across the four grading periods (for all subjects) are added up to determine if the child will pass or fail the year
  • The minimum grade to pass each year is 75%, which is considered to be a very low pass.
  • If the child’s mark is lower than 75% it is a fail. The child has to repeat the year.

High School

  • High school students receive a report card 4 times per year with their exam results
  • If they fail 1 or 2 subjects, these are called ‘back subjects’ and are retaken the next year
  • The passing grade is 75% for each subject

College/University

  • Students need to pass an entrance exam in order for them to enter higher education
  • There are two semesters/terms in one school year. There are exams three or four times each semester as well as regular assignments
  • Exams and assignments are graded on a 1-5 scale where 1.00 is the highest grade, and 4.00 or 5.00 is a fail. Some schools use A-C for pass and then F for fail.
  • A subject can be marked incomplete/failed where assignments/projects are missing, or an exam has been failed
  • If subjects are incomplete/failed, the student must either take them again in summer classes or leave them until the next semester.
  • For some courses there is a Government Board Exam.  This takes place about five months after graduation and a student must pass this in order to get a licence/become registered and thus find a job

Notes specific to children in the Community

CCM encourages the parents of children in our communities to work hard to provide as much as they are able towards their children’s education. Our help is there to supplement their income, not to take away their responsibility for their children.

Children under the program who want to go on to higher education will normally be able to receive extra support through our Scholarship Fund*. College or University costs more than the child’s earlier education, so when the time comes we offer the chance for sponsors who want and are able, to donate towards the extra College or University fees through our ‘scholarship fund’. If you are interested in donating to this Fund, please send it to the treasurer in your country, informing them that your gift is for the Scholarship Fund.

*Scholarship Fund – a fund designated to give extra support to children who are in College/University, and achieving high grades. This is different from your annual sponsorship fees which do not cover all College/University tuition.