​Child Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation: Three out of five children experience violence at home, with the Philippine National Police documenting 17,600 cases of severe child abuse annually. This culture of aggression extends directly into our schools, where data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) consistently ranks the Philippines as the "bullying capital of the world," with up to 65% of students reporting regular victimization. The trauma of early violence at home and in the classroom leaves deep scars, and studies indicate that children who suffer from this continuous abuse are significantly less likely to remain in school by the age of 14.  

 

​High Drop-Out Rates: The educational path for many youth is cut short. For every ten Filipinos who enter basic education, only four will finish Grade 10. Among those who do make it to college, only 39% manage to graduate and earn their degrees. Despite free public education, rising indirect costs force many young people to drop out simply to help their families survive.