Education campaign adopts 10 city elem. schools
Ten public elementary schools in the city are placed in the priority list of the 57/75 education campaign to address their low performance rating. The schools were identified based on the result of the recent 2006-2007 National Achievement Test (NAT).
The 57/75 campaign is a national multi-sectoral campaign to reverse the education crisis towards system-wide performance improvements through a focused private sector intervention and community action.
The ten schools identified and ready for adoption by 57/75 education campaign are A. Bonifacio Elementary School, Baluarte Elementary School, E. Yusay Elementary School, San Juan Elementary School, Bo. Obrero Elementary School, Calaparan Elementary School, Manuel Luis Quezon Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Arevalo Elementary School and S. Abeto Elementary School.
On the other hand, the top performing schools in the city are the Nabitasan Elementary School, Hibao-an Elementary School, Tabucan Elementary School, Bolilao Elementary School, L. Borres Elementary School, Sambag Elementary School, SPED-ISEC, Buntatala Elementary School, Jaro I Elementary School and D. Pison Memorial School.
The decision to put the low performing elementary schools in 57/75 campaign was reached during last Friday's summit dubbed as Summit for 57/75 campaign. The summit was meant to improve basic education in the city. It was attended by different principals, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Ma. Febe Cang, Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Erlinda Gencaya, Mayor Jerry Treñas, Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog and Councilor Julienne Baronda.
According to Mario Derequito, the 57/75 campaign goal is to decrease the dropout rates, improve reading proficiencies and improve achievement rates. The campaign started July this year and they have six pilot areas located in the different parts of the country. Two of the six pilot areas are in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya and San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.
The 57/75 National Consortium is composed of the Ateneo Center for the Education Development, Foundation for Worldwide People Power, Synergia Foundation, League of Corporate Foundations, Philippine Business for Education and Philippine Business for Social Progress.
In Iloilo City, the percentage for the high school dropout is 12.4 and 1.97 for elementary. The percentage for retention in the elementary school is 94.95 and 86.5 for secondary or high school level.
Derequito who is also the director of Ayala Foundation Center for Development said the 57/75 campaign is not to create a 'few superstar students or schools but to assist the broad mass of students and schools around the country.
He said there are many children in the country who could not read or understand that they read even in higher grade levels. The children are not learning enough. And there are several contributory factors that affect the children.
Derequito said the three most common problems that affect the children are poor nutrition, lack of sufficient materials and limited skills of the teachers. There are also children who lack interest in learning. 'Every child should stay in school, reads and achieve.'
Under the 57/75 campaign, the national consortium will look for funds essential for the realization of their three goals. The funds will be spent in school feeding, workbooks in reading, math and science and same time re-align their existing program with the three goals of the consortium.