Out-of-school girls in Eastern Visayas now have a place to learn following the completion of Girls Education Center (GEC) at the Department of Education (DepEd) regional office complex in Palo, Leyte, on Monday.

The GEC, funded through DepEd’s partnership with United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is for young female learners from the poorest families in the region.

The facility can accommodate at least 30 learners every academic year.

“The GEC is envisioned to be a one-stop educational hub where ALS (Alternative Learning System) learners of Tacloban City and surrounding areas in Leyte will be able to avail holistic support and opportunities to improve their lives through continuing learning and life skills training under the ALS program,” KOICA Country Director Kim Eunsub said during the launch.

KOICA provided USD1 million funding for the construction of the building and equipment.

The project’s primary target beneficiaries are out-of-school girls registered in the DepEd-ALS program.

DepEd regional office also received a mini-bus, which will be used to shuttle the ALS girls learners from different parts of the region to and from the center.

“Eastern Visayas has been fortunate to be the recipient of this transformative initiative. This partnership with UNESCO and KOICA was conceived during one of our region’s most challenging moments, when Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated our land. Today, we stand here grateful, witnessing the tangible outcomes of our collaborative efforts,” DepEd Eastern Visayas regional director Evelyn Fetalvero said.

“As we inaugurate this center, we reaffirm our belief that every girl deserves equal opportunities, just as boys do, in terms of education, job opportunities, living standards, and respect within our society. Education serves as a powerful catalyst for personal growth and skill development, allowing individuals to reach their full potential,” she added. (PNA)