Almost ten percent of the estimated 39 million Filipinos 6 to 24 years old were out-of-school children and youth (OSCY), according to the results of the 2016 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS). In this report, OSCY refers to family members 6 to 14 years old who are not attending formal school; and family members 15 to 24 years old who are currently out of school, not gainfully employed, and have not finished college or post-secondary course.

 

According to the results of the survey, less than two percent of children aged 6 to 11 years were OSCYs; which is twice lower than the 3.5 percent of the total children aged 12 to 15 years who were not attending school.

 

Of the 3.8 million OSCYs, 87.3 percent were 16 to 24 years old, 7.7 percent were 12 to 15 years old and 5.0 percent were 6 to 11 years old. The proportion of OSCYs was higher among females than males (Table 1).

 

The most common reasons among OSCYs for not attending school were marriage or family matters (42.3%), high cost of education or financial concerns (20.2%), and lack of personal interest (19.7%). Among females, marriage or family matters was the main reason for not attending school with 59.3 percent; while it is the lack of personal interest among males with 36.5 percent (Table 2).

 

Nationwide, about 53 percent of OSCYs belong to families whose income fall at the bottom 30 percent based on their per capita income (Table 3).

 

The APIS is a nationwide survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Around 11,000 sample households are covered in the survey nationwide. The survey is designed to provide non-income indicators related to poverty at the national level. It aims to gather data on the socio-economic profile of families and other information related to their living condition.

 

 

FOR THE UNDERSECRETARY:

 

 

(Assistant Secretary and Deputy National Statistician, CTCO)

Officer-in-Charge