Many OFW children lose interest in education - IOM exec

An officer of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has observed that most of the children of Filipino migrant workers have lost enthusiasm to finish their studies, and have preferred to follow in the footsteps of their parents.

These children would right away leave the country if given opportunities to go abroad, said Ricardo Casco, IOM-Philippines’ national program officer for labor migration support. Casco was interviewed by Ma. Fe Nicodemus of Kakammpi, an organization of migrant workers and their families.“Because they are not graduates of any course in the Philippines, they are forced to take up whatever jobs abroad they can set their hands on... however menial," he said.

He suggested that government encourage overseas Filipinos to put up projects for the education of migrants' children.

Casco also observed that Filipino immigrants tend to lose touch with their communities of origin.“Some Filipino immigrants are not keen on making efforts to contribute something for the development of the local communities they left behind," he noted.Such an attitude could have impact on the country’s development, he said.“Millions of talented Filipinos in their most productive years leave the country and the insights they gain from various fields of work abroad are vastly untapped for the development of local communities," Casco observed.

When asked to comment on the role of migration in development, Casco said: “Migration could deter achievement of development goals if migrants would not contribute for the progress of local communities." According to him, lack of concern for home community and the absence of a government strategy linking up migration and development can bog down the country’s progress.

Casco lashed at graft and corruption, saying, “Filipino philanthropic groups overseas have a hard time negotiating for donations among corporations abroad because of the well-reported-on corruption in government."The Philippines, along with 191 member states of the United Nations, signed the Millennium Declaration in September 2000.

The Philippines made commitments to pursue the eight time-bound and specific targets under the declaration, which in general aims to reduce, if not eradicate, poverty by the year 2015.The eight Millennium Development Goals are: eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating HIV /AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and developing global partnerships for development. - Luis Gorgonio, GMANews.TV

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