CHILD WELFARE

Greg Keller of AP reported that the survey conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development among the 30 developed member countries found the US in the red. This is because the past regime has meager benefit program for the youngsters especially those under 6 years old. US is 4th worst in terms of infant mortality, 7th rank from the bottom in terms of educational achievement, double the average OECD level on child poverty, and 3x OECD average on teen-age motherhood. Apparently, this resulted from biased allocations towards the older groups ranging from ages 12 to 17. Higher budget allocations were therefore given to those in the secondary and tertiary school levels, neglecting the most sensitive and critical level of child development. Perhaps, the new regime would look at this results with the though of improving the lot because this is simply alarming.