Northern Mindanao ranks 4th with high number of out-of-school youth

SIXTEEN percent or one out of every eight of the estimated 39 million Filipinos six to 24 years old are out-of-school youths (OSY), as shown on the 2010 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (Apis).
Among the regions, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) has the highest percentage of OSYs with 24 percent followed by Davao with 19 percent, Caraga and Central Luzon with 18 percent each and Northern Mindanao ranking fourth with 17 percent.
The Cordillera Administrative Region has the lowest percentage of OSYs with 10 percent.
OSY refers to family members six to 17 years old who are not attending formal school and family members 18 to 24 years old who are currently out of school, not gainfully employed and have not finished college or post-secondary course.
Based on the survey, the reason for not attending school varies by age and sex.
For six to 12 years old, among the leading reasons are lack of personal interest and too young to go to school.
Lack of personal interest is also the commonly cited reason for OSYs who are 13 to 17 years of age followed by high cost of education.
For OSYs aged 18 to 24, looking for work was also cited as a main reason among males and marriage among females.
The Apis is a nationwide survey conducted during the years when the Family Income and Expenditures Survey is not carried out