ODIONGAN, Romblon (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Mimaropa region reminded families enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) that they should keep their children in school.

In a statement, the 4Ps Regional Program Management Office, in collaboration with municipal operations offices, is taking proactive measures to ensure that children of 4Ps families who are not enrolled in the present school year will be registered to attend classes in the next academic year.

Moreover, efforts are being made to prevent enrolled children from dropping out this year.

To support these efforts, the DSWD has developed a manual titled "Sustaining the Interest of Children and Youth in School," which serves as a guide during Family Development Sessions (FDS).

The manual covers topics such as the challenges faced by children and youth not attending school, the rights and responsibilities of children and parents, and methods for dealing with family and parental conflicts contributing to dropout rates.

Furthermore, 4Ps staff members are conducting Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with parents and children identified as Not-Attending School (NAS) in various municipalities across the region.

These discussions aim to identify the underlying issues leading to non-attendance and to develop strategies to address them.

In collaboration with the Sangguniang Kabataan and the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System, the DSWD is also organizing information campaigns and orientations to encourage the youth to return to school.

Through workshops and consultations, parents and children are given a platform to express the challenges they face regarding education and to devise potential solutions.

Ultimately, the DSWD aims to eliminate the "NAS" category among 4Ps beneficiaries, ensuring that every household maximizes the benefits of the program in supporting their children's education. (PJF/PIA MImaropa - Romblon)