Church, schools to work together to help children of OFWs

Catholic schools have called on a Church-based migrant workers’ group to closely work with them in the formation of minors whose parents are working abroad.

Father Edwin Corros, executive secretary of the Catholic Episcopal Commission on Migrant and Itinerant Peoples (ECMI), said they have received reports from Catholic schools about children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) encountering difficulties in studies.

“It would be easier to form OFW support groups in various parts of the country because they would only do a simple survey to among elementary pupils and high school students who among have one or both parents abroad,” Corros was quoted in a report by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ CBCP News.

Corros added the school’s guidance counsellors have observed certain attitudinal problems from children of OFWs, including difficulties in comprehension and adjusting to regular school routines.

Corros said school teachers noted the below average scholastic performance which he attributed to lack of parental supervision.

“Ideally, parents have to be physically present to supervise their children but economic reasons made either or both parents leave for overseas employment,” Corros explained.

Some Filipinos are forced to work abroad away from their families due to financial reasons, particularly to better provide for children.

While the phenomenon of having one parent away to work abroad to work, there have been an increase of cases were both parents away to overseas jobs.

John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator of the overseas Filipino worker group, Migrante Middle East, said that due to dire situationin the country, parents are normally forced by dire circumstances to be employed abroad.

“Usually, it is the father or the mother leaves the country to work abroad. But if this is the case, the remaining parent will be forced to leave the country to work, too. This is no good as this obviously weakens family ties,” he said adding that while both parents are away, the burden of taking care of the children will be transferred to the aging grandparents.

By Gilbert P. Felongco, Correspondent

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