One school at a time

Education is learning. Learning involves change, which impacts not only the individual but also the community where one thrives. Effective education and learning desire to create an impact on a person, a learning institution, and the community as a whole.

Inspired by the Mentoring the Mentors Program pushed by Eugenia Apostol way back in 2002 and which is still doing great service to several learning institutions, the CFC Educational Foundation Inc. (CFCEFI), likewise guided by its advocacy that education is a right and not a privilege, was led to “adopt” several schools, particularly those under the public education system.

The Eggie Apostol Foundation’s community-driven strategy is called the Education Revolution. It aims to engage the entire community to strategically plan for a sustained education improvement initiative. It is highlighted by a two-pronged approach—anchored on the Department of Education’s Adopt-A-School Program (ASP)—that simultaneously addresses the need to improve teacher quality and heightens the local community’s awareness that good schools are indicators of a vibrant community.

Today, the Mentoring the Mentors Program is fully and independently managed by the Marie Eugenie Foundation, but the familiar faces are still there: Chinit Rufino is still at the helm of things, while Eve Mejillano and Celia Adriano continue to provide academic guidance while inspiring teachers in the process.

Initial discussions with ASP operations manager Merlie J. Asprer revealed the niche where school adoption is maximized. Several partner-institutions of the ASP offer very valuable contributions for school reform. These include infrastructure improvement services, continuing education programs to enhance educators’ teaching skills, curriculum enhancement programs for a more enriched academic program, and other learning packages that truly assist public schools to develop competitive students and graduates.

With all of these programs on school adoption presented to the CFCEFI, the latter brought before the ASP a menu of services it hoped would be a contribution to Philippine education. It crafted modules focusing on enhancing character formation for stakeholders of any given learning institution: its students, their parents, and, of course, the teaching and nonteaching staff. This menu was affirmed by the ASP as our niche. Soon enough, the learning packages were approved and the partnership between CFCEFI and the DepEd was sealed by a memorandum of agreement.

Several public schools in Quezon City have been adopted since 2007: Bagumbayan Elementary School, Libis Elementary School, P. Bernardo Elementary School, Kamuning Elementary School, and Malaya Elementary School. Education reform was initiated through regular values formation programs for the stakeholders. The school heads affirmed how the sessions have helped in terms of creating a healthier school atmosphere beginning with a healthier home environment.

The desire to move from one school to another and the opportunity to adopt more schools must be a shared goal by not only the adopting entity but, more importantly, by key players in education. Of prime value is establishing strong relationships with education officials on the ground (division superintendents, district supervisors, school heads, and even their OICs). The CFCEFI is fortunate enough to have allies not only in the ASP’s Asprer but also in Merucuria F. Ganaden, guidance head of the DepEd Quezon City Division and district supervisor of the Quezon City DepEd. Ganaden was very instrumental in bringing our school adoption program to other schools within and outside of the city.

It has also become apparent how a principal’s openness to link with individual and corporate partnerships spells the success of any undertaking of the institutions they lead. Very notable were the efforts made by Thelma Co (a school principal with whom the CFCEFI has been working since her headship at Bagumbayan Elementary School in 2006, at Libis Elementary School in 2009, and now at Kamuning Elementary School) and Maricris Suarez-Santos (with whom we have been collaborating since her headship at Malaya Elementary School in 2009, at P. Bernardo Elementary School in 2010, and now at Tomas Morato Elementary School).

Likewise, another great realization in education reform through school adoption is the value of knowing the other partner-institutions and their program offerings, as this allows collaboration for the benefit of the adopted institutions, thereby opening the floodgates for linkages.

Motivated by these initial responses from our adopted schools, the CFCEFI has launched a school adoption movement called “ACTS” or Advocating Change Through Schools. The aim is to involve partners from the academe, corporations, and individuals to support character formation programs that will enhance teaching, learning, and family life, thus redounding to healthier communities and a healthier country. This movement will be offered to elementary and secondary schools in the public and private sectors.

Indeed, there is so much promise in school adoption. We simply look beyond the faces of the students, their parents, and the teaching and nonteaching staff. We simply see the hope in each one of them.

Myra Mabugat-Menguito (mmmenguito@gmail. com) is the executive director of the CFC Educational Foundation Inc.