Education is commonly defined as the development of an individual’s capacities, enabling them to interact with and shape their environment while fulfilling their social responsibilities (Dewey, n.d.). This perspective is echoed by Pestalozzi (2022), who described education as the natural, harmonious, and progressive cultivation of a person’s innate abilities. Together, these philosophies underscore the central role of formal schooling in structuring learning experiences that equip students with essential knowledge, skills, and values for meaningful participation in society.
In the Philippines, the 1987 Constitution enshrines education as a fundamental right for every citizen. To uphold this mandate, the government implemented the Education for All (EFA) Plan in 2006, which sought to improve access to quality basic education by 2015. Its primary goal was to ensure that all learners attain the competencies required for functional literacy.
However, one persistent barrier to achieving this vision is the prevalence of “school-less” community areas where no schools exist. The absence of educational institutions in these communities significantly restricts access to learning and delays the academic development of many children.
The magnitude of this challenge is evident in Department of Education Region I data (2022), which reports that out of 3,267 barangays in the region, 989 (30.27%) do not have an elementary school, and only 564 barangays are served by secondary schools. As a result, students from underserved areas often travel considerable distances to attend classes, while some are effectively excluded from education altogether (Villar, 2021). For instance, in the District of Numancia in Region VI, although there are at least 12 elementary schools, Barangay Tabangka remains a school-less community. The nearest option for students is the Numancia Integrated School in the Division of Aklan. According to the Punong Barangay, learners from Tabangka must travel either to Barangay Poblacion in Numancia or Barangay Bugasongan in Lezo to access basic education services.
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