Removing the Barriers to Education: Disclosing the Voices of 4Ps Beneficiaries from the Lens of the IP Parents

This qualitative phenomenological study purposed to discover how the 4Ps grants benefited IP parents and how it helped remove barriers to education for their children. It aimed to investigate the challenges encountered, their ways of coping, and their insights about the experiences they have encountered. Twenty selected parents whose children were enrolled in Paopao High School (SHS) were involved in this endeavor. Ten female IP 4Ps parents for the individual in-depth interview and another ten female IP 4Ps parents for the focused group discussion. The results of the interview were transcribed and translated to produce core ideas and essential themes. The essential themes revealed the following experiences encountered by the 4Ps beneficiaries, which include the program as beneficial; it has helped a lot in terms of the education of their children and health concerns. For that, they were feeling grateful. They are strictly monitored, which has compelled then to abide by the conditions of the program. Also, they have received negative feedback from non-beneficiaries and worried about their difficult lives without this program. Relating to their coping mechanisms with the experiences they have encountered as IP 4Ps beneficiaries, the following essential themes emerged: follow 4Ps conditionalities to remain as a beneficiary, neglect negative feedback and focus on the future of their children, and support their education. They shared common insights, such as the fact that the program was for financial assistance, an opportunity, and temporary. These stories of IP parents 4Ps beneficiaries shed hope to others that through 4Ps benefits, their children have become motivated and driven to reach their goals. If used and managed properly, little by little education would be the highest priority, and poverty could be alleviated and would no longer be a barrier to education.