LACK of education is one of the biggest problems plaguing many of the youth in the Philippines, and the pandemic worsened this. A study released in 2021 showed that the number of out-of-school youth in the country rose in the first four months of 2020 from 16.9 percent to 25.2 percent. 

According to UNICEF, millions of children worldwide are deprived of education, something that is meant to be a right but is instead treated to be a privilege. One of the biggest reasons behind this is poverty. 

Another reason so many students drop out is due to the distance of their schools, especially for those living in remote areas. News stories tell of children walking kilometers, wading through wet mud and enduring blistering heat just to get to class on time. 

These are just some of the reasons why the 42-year-old co-founder of Filbrit Group, Mayet Malang-Evans, decided to create the Paaralang Tuktuk. It is a program that transforms a tuktuk, or a three-wheeled motorized vehicle, into a mobile classroom for children in more remote areas.

The first tuktuk has been deployed in Nueva Ecija. 

“As I approached my 40th birthday, I reflected on how I could make a meaningful difference in the lives of children, and leave behind a lasting legacy,” Malang-Evans said in an email interview with republicasia. 

Then the idea hit her: a mobile classroom to reach people who lacked access to education due to their distance from schools. 

“I scoured for an economical option that would be easy to drive and capable of maneuvering through narrow streets [so it] could reach everyone. My aspiration is that by offering access to education, I can motivate and empower the next generation about its importance,” she said. 

Bringing the vision to life

It was through the help of Malang-Evans’ husband, Dr. Mark Evans, that this idea became a reality.

During her birthday, Mark asked his wife if she wanted to have a big party. But instead of saying yes, she talked to him about her idea to create a mobile classroom. 

Looking back, she recounted how hard it was to make things happen during the pandemic because it wasn’t easy to get supplies. She isn’t living in the Philippines as well, so that made it all the more difficult. Luckily, she was able to find help through her friends, who bought a Tuktuk on the Evans’ behalf and also had it designed based on their vision.

At present, the couple shoulders all the expenses required to run the Paaralang Tuktuk, such as the teacher’s salaries and the cost of supplies. 

Malang-Evans even requested during her birthday that instead of gifts for her, her friends should instead bring supplies for the tuktuk like books, and pencils–anything the children can use to learn or the teachers can use to teach.

Currently, the cost of maintaining this mobile classroom is at P15,000 to P20,000 per month. The cost of building the tuktuk is P360,000.

Childhood challenges

Malang- Evans brought this project to life because she knew how it was to struggle to get an education. 

“Growing up, my family didn’t have a lot of money, and I attended a public school located in the province of Nueva Ecija,” she said when asked why she wanted to turn this dream into a reality so badly.

She did not have a lot of resources to help her, she noted. 

“I faced many struggles during my time in school, such as having to share books with five other people and not being able to buy things for myself. My family couldn’t afford to buy paper, so I had to split the bills with them just to have paper to write on. I even wanted to read and study more, but I couldn’t afford it,” she recalled. 

She is now of the firm belief that finances should never be a barrier to education, and everyone should have access to it. 

Through Paaralang TukTuk, she hopes to reach all kids who may need it, and help them to develop a love for learning.

Education is for everyone, she said. 

“It’s not just for the wealthy; it’s a basic human right,” she said. 

Bumps on the road

A project this big and this costly is difficult, but it’s especially hard when you’re trying to make it happen during a pandemic. 

In the experience of Malang-Evans, a process that was initially only supposed to take a month and a half ended up taking as long as four months after the tuktuk’s designers got COVID. 

And then after the tuktuk was built, the next struggle was looking for a teacher who’d be able to teach children and drive the tuktuk amidst the health criss. This was one of the biggest obstacles she first faced; it was hard finding someone who could ride a motorbike as well as provide quality education.

Thankfully, they have been able to overcome the obstacles that have come their way. 

“Despite all the difficulties, with the support of our community [and] the will of God and my husband’s help, we were able to accomplish our goal,” Malang-Evans said.

How it works

Malang-Evans said she chose a tuktuk in particular because it is a cost-effective manner of transportation that can get through even the narrowest of roads. The vehicle is also rather eye-catching and helps to grab the attention of the communities it visits. 

“The Paaralang Tuktuk is truly amazing; it operates smoothly and provides all necessary resources and support to help students and teachers succeed,” she said. 

In discussing how it works, she said that the teachers follow the standard approach seen in most schools.

“We strictly adhere to the set curriculum. During each visit, we assign homework that isn’t mandatory but is enjoyed by almost all students. After each session, the teachers then evaluate the progress made, and then set targets for upcoming visits to track the progress of the students and to adjust to them accordingly,” she said. 

She also said that whether they’re gathered under a tree, or are set up in the backyard at a volunteer parent’s house, the students receive high-quality education. 

Reading and literacy in particular are some of the priorities in the lessons of the Paaralang Tuktuk, given that literacy is a fundamental skill everyone must possess when they enter adulthood.

For this, the school has set up the Reading for Success program, which helps children as young as three to four years old to read. Older students that struggle with reading confidence, as well as adults, can also take part in this program.

How you can lend a hand

The Paaralang Tuktuk has been running for about two years now. Since its launch, it’s been able to help over 100 students.

“We take pride in the fact that our students have gained confidence in their reading and writing abilities thanks to the assistance of our dedicated team,” Malang-Evans said. 

With its powerful tools and dedicated team, it’s no wonder that the Paaralang Tuktuk has quickly grown to become an exceptional educational program that has made a true difference in the lives of so many children.

While Malang-Evans and her team haven’t yet been able to set up a website for the Paaralang Tuktuk, they can be followed on their website which showcases their foundation in the Philippines, the Filbrit Foundation Inc. 

The organization is also open for donations for the creation of 10 more tuktuks, set to be deployed in different places. It also accepts donations of different supplies such as paper, pencils, and the like. 

It likewise urges people to share their stories on any social media platform. 

Or if you have the time, you can also volunteer to help out with the project itself, she said. 

“You don’t have to be a teacher or a driver to help us out. Whether you have marketing, administrative, or any other useful skills, we’d be thrilled to hear from you,” she said.