Story By Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga
Photos By Marionne Van Sasis
Five stand-alone Recollect schools are now gearing up for re-certification in year 2021.
Colegio de San Nicolas de Tolentino-Recoletos (Talisay City, Negros Occidental), Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos (San Carlos City), San Pedro Academy (Valencia, Negros Oriental), San Pedro Academy-Recoletos (Caidiocan, Valencia, Negros Oriental) and University of San Jose-Recoletos (Balamban, Cebu) gathered for the Standard-based School Improvement Plan (SSIP) Workshop last January 10-11, 2020. The two-day workshop was held at the CST-R Cultural Hall.
In preparation for the re-certification of Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC), the Recollect schools trained key faculty and staff to self-assess the aforementioned schools and map-out solutions to elevate the quality of secondary education for Filipino youth.
Rev. Fr. Joel Alve, OAR, CST-R director-principal and chairman of the Life and Mission Project of the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno (LAMP) Decision No. 37, opened the event with a moving opening speech that called on Recollect educators to always look at their guide or Polestar—Caritas et Scientia—in making plans for the future of Recollect schools.
Rev. Fr. Anthony Morillo, OAR, CSNT-R director-principal, cautioned the teachers and staff that self-assessment must be “true to our selves” for they, too, will implement “all these plans.” Fr. Morillo also inspired trust upon the Recollect teachers who are charged with developing solutions and innovations for the basic education system of Recollect schools.
“I know we can count on you—the very reason why we have chosen you to be part of this activity.”
Ms. Anna Gajete, CSNT-R registrar and quality assurance officer, and Ms. Marinell Ocampo, CST-R assistant principal, were the main speakers and facilitators of the workshop.
Gajete primarily discussed the principles of evidence-based assessment system that will enable private schools to continue receiving government subsidy in the form of Fund for Assistance to Private Education (FAPE). She shared the three levels that include pre-certification, certification visit and post certification. The third level already involves implementation of the recommendations made by certifiers.
Gajete further emphasized to fellow Recollect educators that when creating SSIP, or the plan for schools, key questions must be asked and answered: What should my school aim for? Where is my school currently at? What must be done? How will we get there?
Ocampo focused on the actual writing and aligning of SSIP based on standards from the Department of Education. Participants, grouped into eight area standards, proceeded to the workshops right after each talk.
Former Executive Director of Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU), Concepcion Tejano, paid a surprise visit during the workshop and encouraged administrators, teachers and staff to keep on working for their accreditation to elevate the quality of education in private schools.
Echoing this call of Tejano, Rev. Fr. Eduardo Celiz, Jr., USJ-R Balamban director, said, “Let us make small stand-alone schools raise the banner of quality [education].”
Recollect administrators and educators are now polishing the respective SSIP of the five participating schools and are preparing to begin implementations by February 2020.
On this note, Rev. Fr. Vicente Ramon, Jr., OAR, CST-R treasurer and prior of Recoletos de San Carlos, mandated that Recollect schools must now begin the “march forward” to continuously innovate, to change for the better, to improve and to pass certification goals.
