Research Team Selected to Conduct Data Gathering for Child Protection Project with Save the Children

In an effort to uphold the right of all children to education, Save the Children-Philippines has embarked on a campaign to promote inclusive education for children with disabilities in Taguig, Pateros, and Parañaque. This entails obtaining current trends and opinions of local governments, schools, and parents toward the inclusion of children with special needs in regular classes. Child protection, discipline, and parenting styles are being examined in preparation for better mechanisms to prevent abuse and promote positive discipline.

The current “Baseline Data Gathering for Inclusive ECCD and Protection Project in Taguig, Pateros and Parañaque” research, which Save the Children-Philippines has selected SDRC to conduct, aims to gather information prior to implementing the organization’s projects. This can provide valuable insight as to whether Save the Children’s efforts will be effective at the end of its two-year campaign. Thus far, focus group discussions have been held with teachers and parents of children with and without disability. Key informant interviews have also been conducted with the sites’ social workers and head teachers, and pre-testing of the survey tool for day care center children and elementary students has been carried out. Next steps include scheduling final interviews with a Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) representative and DepEd supervisors; and administering surveys to selected toddlers, elementary students, and parents.

The baseline data gathering project is headed by SDRC Director Dr. Maria Caridad H. Tarroja as primary investigator, Ms. Ma. Araceli B. Alcala as co-investigator, and Ms. Marie Rose H. Morales and Ms. Agnes Villegas as research associates.