Last Mile Schools, First
Working with partners in the public and private sectors; Black Pencil Project aims to contribute to reducing the gap in distance learning, address the Opportunity Gap and some of the most pressing challenges of last mile schools.
As of date, Black Pencil Project caters to only six (6) out of 7,144 identified last mile schools by the Department of Education across the country needing immediate support. This is strikingly very low but we hope our advocacy inspires individuals, families and organizations to reach out where help is needed the most.
Project Communities
Cambulo, Banaue, Ifugao
280 Learners, 25 Teachers
Pula, Mattao and Cambulo Elementary Schools are hidden in the upper rice terraces region of Banaue, Ifugao. Travel immersion to this communities require minimum of 2 days; involved 8-10 hour bus ride, topload jeepney ride and light rice terraces trekking.
Labney, Mayantoc, Tarlac
400 Learners, 13 Teachers
Labney Integrated School is located in a valley community tucked at the eastern slopes of Zambales Mountain. 150 kms north of Manila, Labney is home of surviving Aeta-Abeling tribe and is accessible by dirt zigzag road, one river crossing during dry season.
Dueg, San Clemente, Tarlac
300 Learners, 12 Teachers
Dueg Elementary School is perched at the eastern slopes of Zambales Mountain. Surviving Aeta families that relocated after Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 peacefully live here and becomes isolated during rainy season as access roads are prone to landslides.
Sta. Ines, Tanay, Rizal
250 Learners, 12 Teachers
Sta. Ines Elementary School is nestled at the upper protected watershed of Sierra Madre Mountains in Rizal. An hour drive away from Quezon City, this isolated community is home of Dumagat-Remontados and is inaccessible during monsoon months.
Caub, Del Carmen, Siargao
350 Learners, 15 Teachers
Caub Elementary School is located in a peaceful island barangay of Del Carmen; famous for Sugba Lagoon and long mangrove forest in northern Siargao. Visit requires both air, land and sea travel ideal for long weekends and holidays.
Camiguin Norte, Babuyan Islands
400 Learners, 20 Teachers
A cluster of coastal barangays situated in the island municipality of Calayan, Babuyan Islands becomes isolated during monsoon season. Visiting the island in summer time requires minimum of 12 hours bus ride and another 4 hour boat ride from Sta. Ana port.
Sabtang, Batanes
500 Learners, 24 Teachers
A quaint island municipality south of Basco, Sabtang has six (6) barrio schools that can be visited as part of day tour. Visit requires both air, land and sea travel ideal for long weekends and holidays. Best time to visit is summer before the opening of classes.
Last mile schools according to Philippines’ Department of Education are those with less than four classrooms, usually makeshift and nonstandard ones; no electricity; no funds for repairs or new construction projects in the last four years; and a travel distance of more than one hour away from the center, accessible only through difficult terrain. Likewise, these are schools with multi-grade classes, with less than five teachers, and a population of less than 100 learners, more than 75% of whom are indigenous peoples (IP).
Indigenous Focus
Do you know an isolated or remote community that needs help in your area?
Refer a last mile school
“Like campfires and marshmallows, we’re better together”
