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Content |
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| More
than 300 minority ethnic groups live in the highlands of the Philippines.
Education for children is the biggest problem for those people because of
their remote location. Since several years ago, there has been a movement
to build local schools and teach children reading, writing and ethnic cultures.
This program shows people trying very hard to work together to convey their
endangered traditions and ethnic dignity to the next generation. |
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Jury Comments |
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| The
survival of indigenous cultures around the world is threatened by increasing
globalization and by nationalist aspirations. Support for language and cultural
education of marginalized communities is especially problematic in developing
countries where many indigenous communities still exist. The valiant efforts
of several remote tribes in the Philippines to cling to their heritage and
provide educational opportunities for their children are heroically portrayed
in School of the Highlands. Jurors were touched by the words of village
elders who struggled with the realization that educational opportunities
would not exist for their children unless they create them with their own
bare hands. With few resources and little support from the traditional education
system, they created their own schools and curriculum to keep ancient traditions
alive. |
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Producer's comments |
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| Mr. Al Santos, Program Director, Asian Council
for People's Culture (ACPC) |
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During
the last seven years, the Asian Council for People’s Culture (ACPC)
has been involved in establishing opportunities for indigenous communities
to gain access to education. It has been for the most part an uphill climb
in a country where access to education is severely restricted by scarce
resources. But through our educational programs and continuing advocacy,
we have gained greater cooperation from the public that allowed our work
to generate wider support.
ACPC, along with the
children, parents and tribal elders of our partner indigenous schools
are deeply honored
at being awarded the UNICEF Prize at the 30th JAPAN PRIZE International
Educational Program Contest. Most of all, we are happy to be able to share
with you, through our program “School of the Highlands”, a
view of the struggles of indigenous people to provide education to their
children
that will sustain their cultures and traditions. |
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