Mayor Sonia Lorenzo talks about San Isidro’s 57-75 experience to encourage fellow mayors and other local officials to follow suit and discover the rewards of sustained, community-driven education reform

Much has happened since we launched the 57-75 Movement in July 2007 and we are proud to share with you some of the many accomplishments of our 57-75 local education alliances:

57-75 Local Alliances have had several capability- and institutional-building activities, all geared at enhancing their work so that they respond effectively to the needs of their beneficiaries. Such include training workshops on how to teach English, Science and Math for the further appreciation and understanding of students, and leadership and team-building seminars to enhance the synergies within the local alliance.

All assisted areas have also been able to organize local donors’ forums, all with very positive and encouraging results. Local companies have provided grants to fund trainings, reading and in-school feeding programs, while local development partners continue to provide much in-kind, technical support for activities like school-profiling and the development of educational materials.

57-75 has also proven to be such a good magnet for both educational awareness and fund-raising that some of our assisted sites have managed to inspire neighboring areas to also join the Movement. In Nueva Ecija, for example, Task Force San Isidro has been able to convince the neighboring towns of San Jose, Cabiao and Cabanatuan to also implement 57-75 in their area. In Iligan City, the 47 – 74+1 local movement is planning to expand the program so that it serves as well public high schools. Still following the “reversing style” of the Movement’s name, the planned campaign for Iligan’s public high schools is 37 – 73+2 (their National Achievement Test average being only 37%!).

Another significant indication of the efficacy of 57-75 intervention is the increase in NAT scores. Those with available data report the following: from 59.70 to 60.72 in Bayombong, NV; from 53.39 to 75.36 in Guimaras; and 56.18 to 63.72 in Pampanga.

The 57-75 Education Reform Alliance has also undertaken steps to strengthen itself as a “virtual institution”. The 57-75 ERA underwent a strategic planning that resulted in a redefinition of its new purpose, that is, to enable local community-driven education alliances to improve schools’ and students’ learning outcomes in a sustainable manner. Still on the national level, 57-75 is also the beneficiary of the iamninoy Runners group and now a member of the global ammado.com community which connects nonprofits in a unique environment of shared interests and supplies the tools necessary to support online campaigning, fundraising, engagement and communication.

All of these are made possible by partners and donors who share in our dream of reversing the education crisis in the country. May we invite you to once again invest in education so the 57-75 Movement can sustain the good work we have collectively started? One easy way is for your organization to be part of our “57 Donors of P75k” campaign – contributions of P75,000 will help much in supporting our operations!

Do get in touch with us and be part of reversing the education crisis!

In every document on education reform that I’ve read and in practically every education quality forum that I’ve attended, the pivotal role of the community is always emphasized. For example, Key Reform Thrust 1 of the Department of Education’s Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda says that “if schools are to deliver better outcomes in a sustainable manner, the key stakeholders, within the school and the community served by the school, must be enabled and empowered to manage their school-level affairs so that they deliberately and continuously improve the link between their own efforts and their collectively desired educational outcomes. The central insight of this reform thrust is that people most actively and directly involved in and affected by the schools’ operations are the best people to improve the quality of these schools.”

Who are these key education stakeholders? The most obvious ones are the parents and teachers. The duly elected local government is another. In fact, many NGOs involved in community development consider LGU support as a critical - if not essential - component for a successful education improvement effort. Indeed, a progressive local chief executive can do wonders with regard to generating interest and mobilizing resources for a program or project.

The task of improving the quality of basic education in a community however requires a depth of understanding that traditionally comes from a particular type of stakeholder: the higher education institution or HEI.

At a recent forum entitled “The Promise of Redemption: BESRA and the Need for Higher Education Reform, Dr. Maria Serena Diokno said that “we look upon our educational system as a cohesive, coherent learning web. The present segmentation between elementary and secondary education, and between basic and higher education is doing us harm. Higher education faculty often complain about the declining quality of college entrants but do nothing because, they maintain, it is outside the purview of higher education. But it is our problem too, though not of our own making.”

In the province of Pampanga, a Higher Education Institution is leading the way in improving the quality of public schools in their community. Holy Angel University has been very active with 5775, a private-sector led movement whose reform strategy involves organizing local education alliances composed of local businesses, the LGU, the HEI and any NGO or corporate foundation in the area.

These alliances, on their own, have been able to organize local donors’ forums, all with very positive and encouraging results. Local companies have provided grants to fund trainings, reading and in-school feeding programs, while local development partners continue to provide much in-kind, technical support for activities like school-profiling and the development of educational materials.

As of today, 5775 has been able to organize local education alliances in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Iligan City, Iloilo City, Guimaras and of course in the province of Pampanga, where Holy Angel University is.

Dr. Arlyn S. Villanueva, president of Holy Angel University says that the HEI has been an active partner in a 5775 project site in Pampanga for more than two years now. To add some local color, Gov. Ed Panlilio calls their province-wide local alliance PAMIADUANGAN 57-75. Holy Angel University, for its part, extends support to six school districts in Pampanga. Their assistance includes the usual teacher training, supplemental school feeding, and workbook reproduction, in coordination with DepEd of course. They also have a scholarship program for qualified students who normally cannot afford higher education.

Over and above that, HAU has been actively promoting local culture through traveling exhibits of the Center for Kapampangan Studies, the donation of fixtures and books to schools, setting-up of community learning resource centers and training of para-librarians. For an almost inexhaustible and very idealistic supply of volunteers, Holy Angel University turns to its students in the National Service Training Program. They do literacy service and civic welfare activities like tutorials, physical improvement of the school library and fabrication of teaching aids.

Dr. Villanueva adds that “The mere fact that the school has been an active partner of 57-75 until this time is a reflection of the support of the University to help public schools. Aside from helping public schools, it also benefits Holy Angel University as they are feeder schools. Holy Angel University has been helping public schools long before 57-75. All presidents of the school have been supportive [of the public schools] anchored on the founders’ vision of giving quality and affordable education.”

Dr. Diokno meanwhile strongly suggests that the HEI can do so much more. “Higher education must produce college-ready standards so that the missing links of the learning web are identified. Higher education should come up with work-ready standards especially if we are to consider the establishment of community colleges or two-year programs.

“Finally, higher education’s strongest link with basic education is teacher development. We often blame basic education teachers for doing a bad job. But who trained them in the first place?”

Butch Hernandez (butchhernandez@gmail.com) is the executive director of the Foundation for Worldwide People Power, a 57-75 convenor.

(Education Revolution commentary for Saturday, 20 March 2010 originally submitted to and published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, with inputs (for this e-News) from PAMIADUANGAN 57-75.)

Contributed by Jess Lorenzo, 57-75 Task Force San Isidro

This program provided Math, Science, and English workbooks for all public school elementary students in San Isidro. This was done with the help of 57-75, the Department of Education and the San Isidro Local School Board.

Metrobank Foundation, a staunch partner of the 57-75 Education Reform Alliance, has launched its 2010 Search for Outstanding Teachers.

(a)    Elementary schools can now nominate one each from the primary grade and intermediate grade levels. In this manner, schools will now have more chances of producing winners.

(b)   All those who have won awards for teachers at the city/provincial/regional/national/international levels automatically qualify for the 2nd round as Provincial Finalists, as long as they meet the basic eligibility requirements.

(c)    Past Regional/Semi-Finalists and National Finalists also automatically qualify for the next round, as long as they meet the basic eligibility requirements.

(d)   For teachers from Misamis Oriental: Governor Oscar Moreno announced last week that he will give P500,000 each to the next winner/s from the province.

(e)    For teachers from the Province of Leyte: Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla promised to give P300,000 to the next winner/s from Leyte.

(f)    Visit the multiply site http://mbfisot.multiply.com for updates or posting of messages. For queries on their participation, teachers can also send messages to mbfi_sot@yahoo.com.

Deadline for submission of nominations to any Metrobank branch is on 15 February 2010. Metrobank branches will continue to receive nomination forms until 5:00 in the afternoon.

For inquiries or copies of the Guidelines and Nomination Form, write, call or email:

Metrobank Foundation Office

15^th Floor, Metrobank Plaza

Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City

Tel: (02) 898-8898 / TelFax: (02) 818-5656 or 750-0837

idlabitad@metrobank.com.ph / aareyes@metrobank.com.ph / ebtapnio@metrobank.com.ph

www.mbfoundation.org.ph

mbfi_sot@yahoo.com or blogsite http://mbfisot.multiply.com

57-75 Local Alliances have had several capability- and institutional-building activities, all geared at enhancing their work so that they respond effectively to the needs of their beneficiaries. Such include training workshops on how to teach English, Science and Math for the further appreciation and understanding of students, and leadership and team-building seminars to enhance the synergies within the local alliance.

All assisted areas have also been able to organize local donors’ forums, all with very positive and encouraging results. Local companies have provided grants to fund trainings, reading and in-school feeding programs, while local development partners continue to provide much in-kind, technical support for activities like school-profiling and the development of educational materials.

57-75 has also proven to be such a good magnet for both educational awareness and fund-raising that some of our assisted sites have managed to inspire neighboring areas to also join the Movement. In Nueva Ecija, for example, Task Force San Isidro has been able to convince the neighboring towns of San Jose, Cabiao and Cabanatuan to also implement 57-75 in their area. In Iligan City, the 47 - 74+1 local movement is planning to expand the program so that it serves public high schools as well. Still following the “reversing style” of the Movement’s name, the planned campaign for Iligan’s public high schools is 37 - 73+2 (their National Achievement Test average being only 37%!).

Another significant indication of the efficacy of 57-75 intervention is the increase in NAT scores. Those with available data report the following improvements since 2007: from 58.07 to 60.72 in Bayombong, NV; from 68.37to 75.36 in Guimaras; 61.75 to 63.72 in Pampanga; and from 62.22 to 68.84 in Iloilo City.

The 57-75 Education Reform Alliance has also undertaken steps to strengthen itself as a “virtual institution”. The 57-75 ERA underwent a strategic planning that resulted in a redefinition of its new purpose, that is, to enable local community-driven education alliances to improve schools’ and students’ learning outcomes in a sustainable manner. Still on the national level, 57-75 is now a member of the global ammado.com community which connects nonprofits in a unique environment of shared interests and supplies the tools necessary to support online campaigning, fundraising, engagement and communication. 57-75 is also the beneficiary of the iamninoy Runners group and has recently been shortlisted by a multi-lateral funding agency for possible institutional and program support.

All of these are made possible by partners and donors who share in our dream of reversing the education crisis in the country. May we invite you to once again invest in education through an annual corporate contribution of only P75,000 so the 57-75 Movement can sustain the good work we have collectively started.

To signify your interest or inquire on how to help, please contact the 57-75 Education Reform Alliance (c/o Program Coordinator Nicole Tirona) at 63.2.892-5753 and 970-0230 or taskforce5775@gmail.com

Thank you and best regards.

Your 57-75 Education Reform Alliance

Included in the week-long celebration was the 2^nd Synergy Iligan Forum 2009 which gathered local leaders from the corporate, academe, government and civil society sectors. The Forum’s theme was “Roadmap to 2015: Engaging More Stakeholders in Reversing the Education Crisis“.

The 2-day CSR Expo, entitled KALYE ILIGANON, showcased the best CSR practices of various organizations. It formally opened to the public last December 9, with an Invocation led by His Excellency Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J. of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro.

Day 2 of Iligan’s CSR Expo featured a plenary forum on Education. It was attended by officers of the Department of Education and key leaders of various organizations. Opening Remarks were delivered by DepEd Iligan Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Cherry Mae Limbaco.

Representing the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) were Gisela Tiongson, executive director of Jollibee Foundation and LCF VP for Programs, and Nicole Tirona of the 57-75 Education Reform Movement.

Tiongson spoke on The Joy of Investing, using as her case Jollibee Foundation’s Busog-Lusog-Talino In-school feeding program, while Tirona spoke on how all sectors of a community can help sustain the local 47 - 74+1 education reform movement.

A result of the successful morning session is a plan to design an education reform program for the public high schools of Iligan City. Still following the “reversal” theme of the 57-75 Movement, the planned intervention for public high schools has been tentatively named “37 - 73+2″ (37 being the NAT of Iligan City’s public high schools for the year 2009).

Iligan City’s first-ever CSR Expo was inspired by the (national) CSR Expo organized by League. At the 2009 CSR Expo, representatives from Iligan City were invited to attend the afternoon break-out session on Education. Having witnessed the success of the LCF-organized Expo, St. Michael’s College (an active member of Iligan City’s 47 - 74+1 Movement), decided to organize one for their city.

Positive feedback on their first-ever CSR Expo is expected to generate even greater attendance and participation next year, particularly from the business and local government sectors.

The Balik-Paaralan project of the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) and National Book Store Foundation (NBSF) aims to provide school children — particularly those gravely affected by last year’s typhoons — with a “re-starter kit” that will motivate them to go back to school.For only P200, one can provide a student from a typhoon-stricken public school with a poly-canvass back-pack containing the following basic school materials:

• 5 pieces branded (MERIT) composition or writing notebook
• 2 pads of paper
• 8 color crayons
• 1 piece eraser
• 1 piece sharpener
• 1 piece poly-canvass pencil case
• 1 pair of scissors

National Book Store has waived all income from the sales of these Balik-Paaralan Kits, while the League has committed to support the project among its members and partner networks.

How does one help?

• Donors select areas or schools based on the list provided online.
• Donors may deliver the kits themselves to the selected beneficiary school. (Donor to coordinate directly with school.)
• If the donor is unable to deliver the kits to the beneficiary school, NBSF can deliver the kits to the recipient school if located in Manila. For provincial recipient-schools, donor has to provide transport or arrange to have the kits picked up by the school in Manila.
• Donors may place their orders directly with the National Book Store Foundation, Inc. by e-mailing them this Pledge Form. Attention: Program Officer Bea Torres, nbsfi@nationalbookstore.com.ph (Mobile: 0917-5608743; Tel: 631-8061; Fax: 631-5016).
•  All cheques payable to NATIONAL BOOK STORE FOUNDATION, INC.

 For more information please email taskforce5775@gmail.com or contact Nicole Tirona at (02) 970-0230 or 892-5753.

Quick Response

Balik-Paaralan thanks these foundations that very quickly responded to the appeal!

• Coca-Cola Foundation: P499,000 for 2,495 Balik Paaralan Kits
• Trend Microsystems: P424,400 (2,122 BP Kits)
• Ayala Foundation/Mitsui- Sumitomo Insurance Group (MSIG): P400,000 (2,000 BP Kits)
• Ayala Foundation: P418,000 (2,092 BP Kits)
• UCPB-CIIF Foundation: P200,000 (1,000 BP Kits)
• Mactan Rural Bank (LLC) and Mr. Yu Finance Corp: P200,000 (1,000 BP Kits)
• De La Salle University: P200,000 (1,000 BP Kits)
• BPI Foundation: P100,000 (500 BP Kits)
• BPI-MS:P100,000 (500 BP Kits)
• Metrobank Foundation: P100,000 (500 BP Kits)
• Children’s Hour: P94,000 (470 BP Kits)
• Ayala Corporation - ICT Group: P32,400 (162 BP Kits)
• Private Sector Disaster Management Network: P20,000 (100 BP Kits)
• Mr. and Mrs. J. Co: P5,000 (25 BP Kits)