Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Education Revolution in Sarangani to knock out poverty

By BEVERLY PAOYON

ALABEL, Sarangani (August 3, 2011) - Congressman Manny Pacquiao and Governor Migs Dominguez will lead on Friday (August 5) education revolutionists from the Department of Education (DepEd), Armed Forces of Philippines and education advocates in the battle to end poverty thru quality education.

This is the scenario drawn by schools division superintendent Allan Farnazo.

“If we win the battle for education, then we win the battle against health, and against unemployment,” Farnazo said. He noted that “very low employment opportunity” is rooted from the “very low skills” students were able to acquire.

In a bid to address this, “Education Revolution! Karunungan Kontra Kahirapan (KKK)” was launched in September last year where Dominguez called for the “strengthening of the community’s participation for education through parent mentoring.”

This year, Education Secretary Armin Luistro is expected to witness the event, together with DepEd regional director Isabelita Borres.

Farnazo will deliver on Friday his State of Education Report about his division’s accomplishments, targets, directions, and interventions.

Partners invited to deliver their “state of commitment address” were Robert Burch, chief of party of Education Development Center, United States Agency for International Development; Dr. Milwida Guevara, president and CEO of Synergeia Foundation; Maria Gonzales Goolsby, executive director of Corporate Philanthropy and Social Responsibility; Mark Williams, general manager of Sagittarius Mines, Inc.; Tirso Santillan, executive vice president and CEO of Southern Philippines Power Corporation; Alex Alcantara, executive vice president of Finfish Hatcheries, Inc.; Joseph Nocos, vice president for business development of Conal Holdings Corporation; Richie Lyndon Magtulis, executive director of Alcantara Foundation; and Lt. Col. Adolfo Espuelas Jr., battalion commander of 73rd Infantry Battalion.

Farnazo said Sarangani is the only place in the region where education revolution is not only a DepEd initiative but “more so of a community and of the local government partnership.”

“Actually, na-surprised ako that here in Sarangani, is not only LGUs that are aggressive in the advocacy but even the AFP and PNP. They also have education program,” said Farnazo, who took over as division superintendent on June 3.

Sarangani is drawing support from parents, teachers, and local leaders in implementing reforms in education. “The difference is we are enhancing the standard way of teaching and learning so that Sarangan children will be better,” Farnazo said.

“We are doing a lot of embellishment in the curriculum and customized it to address the needs of Sarangan’s learning,” he added.

DepEd division is adapting the direction statement of Governor Dominguez that in “Sarangani it is more of a collective partnership of all sectors and that of DepEd.”

Asked on the issue on how the division could realize its targets with the pressing issues on classrooms and supplies shortage, Farnazo just admitted that “there will never be a time that there will be enough for everything. In the division, we are addressing it by balancing the distribution of resources.”

The “challenge for us is how to master the ability of managing our resources,” he said because “this problem will all out-live all of us. When we retire the problem would still be there but after we retire we will look back to DepEd saying during my time we have that problem that we were able to manage.”

This year, the KKK activity will be integrated as highlight of the 18th foundation anniversary of DepEd in the province. (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

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