Sarangani’s high NAT result manifests DepEd and LGU partnership

By April Jane Cagas Ugsad

ALABEL, Sarangani (August 14, 2014) - The Province of Sarangani ranks number one again in the National Achievement Test (NAT) in Region 12.

Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Isagani dela Cruz announced the NAT result in his State of the Division Address during the anniversary program of DepEd Sarangani on August 8 at the Capitol Gym.

The anniversary theme "Sulong Sarangan, Sulong Karunungan: Edugaling tungo sa Edukalidad" has brought out the thrust of the Sulong Karunungan component of the Sulong Sarangani flagship program of the province.

Dela Cruz said Sarangani ranked number one in NAT for school year 2013-2014 in the whole Region 12. The region is comprised of the cities of General Santos, Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal and Tacurong, and the provinces of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani. 

Sarangani already topped the NAT exam for school year 2011-2012 in the region.

 

“We are getting better and better each year and we’ll do every effort to consistently rank number 1,” Reynaldo Tagala, Education Program supervisor, said.

One thing that DepEd is proud of is the support of the parents. Parents volunteer to provide snacks and sometimes cook for the students during NAT reviews.

“Maybe this is an edge we have. Our parents here in the province know how important education is for their children and how vital it is to let their children know that they support them all the way,” Tagala added.

NAT is an evaluation of performance and competency among Grade 3 and Grade 6 pupils and 4th year high school students, taken every first week of March conducted by the DepEd’s National Education Testing and Research Center.

Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon lauded DepEd Sarangani for the accomplishment pointing out the efforts primarily rendered by the teachers and school administrators with the support of the parents and the community.

“We are working in partnership with DepEd, and not moving ahead with its programs,” Gov. Solon emphasized.

The provincial leadership has stressed the role of the provincial government as partner of DepEd, and not as DepEd’s competitor to claim credit of education achievement.

All of the programs of DepEd and the Provincial Government of Sarangani are converged and synergized to improve the state of education in the province.

In his 8-point education agenda under Sulong Karunungan, Gov. Solon wants to ensure the increase rate of enrolment and graduates in the elementary and secondary level, and the increase of college entrants from the province.

Part of his education reform agenda is to improve the teachers’ skills, assist under-performing students, require DepEd management and accountability, and promote community involvement by having consultations and training with the Local School Boards (LSBs) and the Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs).

The Sulong Karunungan, as supported by Cong. Emmanuel Pacquiao, Vice Gov. Jinkee Pacquiao, and the board members, has really immersed to bring the quality of education in the province.

Meanwhile, Sarangani Province was chosen by the officials of DepEd in the Autonomous Region of Muslim in Mindanao (ARMM) on August 11 to replicate the education best practices in their region, especially the NAT achievement.

Visitors from ARMM include its DepEd secretary Atty. Jamar Kulayan, assistant secretary Noor Mohammad Saada, director Marjuni Maddi, Basilan schools division superintendent Hja. Norhaya Abdurahim, and Lamitan schools division superintendent Aida Alih.

They visited Kawas Central Elementary School (KCES) in Alabel town. KCES consistently tops in the annual NAT exams as it created FREDGE camp (Friendly Review for Excellence, Doing Good for Education), a school-initiated NAT intervention program, to increase NAT passers.

The FREDGE camp lasts for one week, done every afternoon where pupils are divided into small groups or teams.

According to Jocelyn Jimenez, KCES NAT camp in-charge, pupils are motivated to learn more because they are challenged as a team. “If one will fail in the task per group, the rest will fail. They’ll start from the beginning and do better the next time not to let the team fail again.”

“Hinahalo-halo namin ang mg estudyante sa bawat grupo. Sa bawat grupo ay mayroong mahihina at magagaling para matulungan ng mga magagaling ang mga mahihina. Hindi lang ang intelektwal na aspeto ang nade-develop dito kundi pati ang teamwork ng mga bata,” Jimenez mentioned.

DepEd ARMM officials were impressed to hear and see the strategies that convinced SDS Abdurahim of Basilan to categorically say that they will adopt Sarangani’s handling on education innovations. (April Jane Cagas Ugsad/PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR’S OFFICE)