The need for support for preschool education in the Philippines is great as currently only one in three children in the 3-5 year old age group have access to pre-school education and social development activities. More than 4 million children have no access to pre-school education and consequently one in five drop-out of elementary school by the third grade and suffer illiteracy throughout their lives. Only three in five complete elementary school. Even for children who have access to pre-school education, the learning experience is not satisfactory because of a severe lack of teaching/learning materials. Many day-care centers (and pre-schools) have no materials and consequently learning is extremely limited.

Early learning and psychosocial development of children establishes a foundation for success in school at the elementary and secondary levels. Children who are not prepared for school at age 6 do poorly and are likely to drop out and be consigned to another generation of poverty. Such children are vulnerable to various forms of abuse and exploitation and are at special risk for lives of crime and antisocial behavior as adults.