Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 26) — Daycare workers expressed their concern about losing their positions in light of a proposal to change the employment arrangement in Child Development Centers (CDC).
“May takot po talaga ang maraming CDW (child development worker) all over the Philippines doon sa word na professionalization,” Federation of Day Care Workers national president Pearl Reyes told a Senate hearing on Wednesday.
[Translation: Many CDWs all over the Philippines are really afraid of the word professionalization.]
The Senate basic education committee is tackling a measure that aims to align the country’s early child development and basic education systems.
Senate Bill 2029, filed by committee chairman Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, also aims to address issues with the qualifications and career progression of preschool teachers and workers.
However, Reyes told the committee that most CDWs are not degree holders but have been in the profession for years.
“What if they are high school graduates and they are 55 years old right now? They have to study again for five years?” she asked.
Gatchalian said they will be able to retain their positions by upskilling. He also proposed a law or a specialized program for them to be certified.
Mandatory preschool?
The senators also brought up the possibility of making preschool compulsory.
This was after Early Childhood and Development Care Council executive director Teresita Inciong cited a study conducted from 2014-2019 that showed children who attended preschool or daycare fared better in math, literacy, and socio-emotional skills later on in their education.
Government data showed only around 600,000 children aged two to four attended preschool in 2022 to 2023 out of the estimated population of 6.8 million.
