Press Release No. EBB-03-2020
Filipino Teachers’ Group in Jeddah Give Free Tutorial Classes to Female and Minor Wards at the Consulate’s Bahay Kalinga
Jeddah, 14 January 2020. Members of the Philippine International School Teachers’ Association (PISTA), a Filipino teachers’ group based in Jeddah, have begun giving free tutorial classes to female and minor wards at the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah’s Bahay Kalinga. The project is a joint effort of PISTA, the Philippine Consulate General, and the Office of the DSWD-Social Welfare Attache in Jeddah.
According to Ms. Cristina Dela Cruz, President of PISTA, the project is their group’s contribution to the Philippine Consulate General’s efforts to help make the temporary stay of distressed OFWs, both adults and minors, at the Bahay Kalinga productive and less stressful while awaiting their repatriation.
There were 18 female wards and 4 minors who attended the first day of the tutorial classes. Of 18 female wards, 2 are unschooled, 4 did not finish elementary education, and the rest are high school graduates and college level. Three (3) of the 4 minors are children of female wards, while the 4th is the child of Filipino parents who are currently in prison for having committed an offense against Saudi law. The teachers gave the attendees instructions on basic English, basic Math, and how to read and write for the unschooled.
PISTA will hold the tutorial classes thrice a week at the Consulate’s new community library. PISTA President Ms. Dela Cruz said that her group is ready and willing to conduct the free tutorial classes for the wards “for as long as the Consulate wants us to teach.” END
The female wards receiving preliminary instructions before the start of the tutorial classes (left photo), and lessons
on basic English and Math, and how to read and write for the unschooled among them (right photo)
The minor wards at the Bahay Kalinga received instructions on shapes and colors from the members of PISTA.
Leftmost photo shows Ms. Anna Oidem, DSWD-Social Welfare Attache (center), with members of PISTA.
