BARANGAY EDUCATION SUMMITS IN ALBURQUERQUE

After the creation of barangay school boards in all the barangays of Alburquerque, Barangay Education Summits were scheduled. The first three  to conduct the Barangay Education Summits with the theme “towards reforms in basic education” were Dangay on April 8^th, Cantiguib on April 11^th and Toril on April 12^th.

During each of the barangay summits, the barangay captain presented the state of education of his barangay, showing on powerpoint presentations data and indicators on Performance Ratings in NAT and RAT, cohort survival rate, repetition rate,  retention rate, drop out rate, PHILIRI or reading scores, as well as school facilities.  In attendance were the members of the barangay school board, PTA, barangay officials,  the district supervisor, school principal or school head, teachers of the barangay, as well as the Mayor, PNP, etc.

The workshops, facilitated by Vera V Gesite, included a Current Reality Dialogue on the state of Education, a Visioning Workshop, and a Workshop on identifying the hindering and enabling factors to the achievement of the vision, as well as the interventions and recommendations. On the current reality dialogue, a plenary discussion was made on the Strengths and Weaknesses of the school and education of the barangay as well as the Opportunities and Threats affecting the education.   In the visioning workshop, the question asked  “What are your hopes and dreams for your children? (Unsa man ang inyong mga damgo para sa inyong mga kabataan?)”  The third workshop asks:  What are the enabling factors in the achievement of your dreams? (Unsa man ang makatabang pagkab ot sa inyong mga damgo sa inyong mga kabataan?)  and What are the hindering factors ? (Unsa man ang mga babag?) The last workshop identified the interventions and recommendations for the improvement of basic education in the barangay.

It is noteworthy to mention that while the performance in NAT and RAT are low in the barangays, there is an increasing trend in NAT scores compared to previous years.  In addition, several initiatives in teacher training, parent effectiveness training, mentoring, reading program, etc are undertaken by Synergeia Foundation, Miriam College, Holy Name University in Alburquerque.  Feeding programs are conducted by San Miguel Foods and a future tie up with Jollibee Group Foundation.  Pusong Pinoy and Alburanons Worldwide donated hundreds of books which are currently rotated as mobile libraries in schools. With the laptops from SGV through Synergeia, students and teachers receive trainings in Microsoft Word, Powerpoint Presentations and Excel. Moreover, other initiatives and programs are in the pipeline in order for basic education reforms to happen in Alburquerque.

The Education Summits of the other barangays are as follows: Basacdacu April 15; Bahi April 16, Tagbuane April 22, EPO and SRHS April 23, other feeder barangays April 29.