ON PIONEERING SHS

IN any endeavor, to start something is arduous. It takes a lot of time, talent and even treasure to make things happen, until with each step in the struggle things start to fall into place.

The Senior High School of Isabela National High School started with an enrolment of about 500 learners in the academic track under the strands Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM).

Pioneering the full implementation of Grades 11 and 12 needed a focus on the various aspects necessary for its successful implementation. Personnel, facilities, and classrooms were closely checked and monitored to address concerns of both learners, faculty and staff.

Some of the 18 senior high teachers were borrowed from the junior high; and as enrollment increased dramatically, the need to have full time senior high teachers was addressed, hence, the recruitment of more senior high teachers.

Of its classrooms, a 12-classroom building initially housed grade 11 learners most of them are our own junior high completers and the rest come from feeder barangays and some from the neighboring towns of Tumauini, Gamu, Naguilian and San Mariano.

Along with the growing senior high program are inevitable challenges that are commonly met by any public school offering the same program. But thanks to the unconditional

guidance and support of the Schools Division Office and the local government unit of the City of Ilagan, including internal and external stakeholders of Isabela National High. They helped laid the strong academic foundation of grades 11 and 12.

Today, the senior high school of Isabela National High continues to attract more entrants through its programs and projects along with the innovations being undertaken to better improve the delivery of quality basic education. With the offering of another strand, the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) this school year, more enrollees have flocked to the school, recording the highest number of entrants among the three strands.

With its outstanding performance for the past two years, the senior high school of INHS is seen to become one of the most promising senior high implementers not only in the region but also in the entire country.

Indeed, pioneering one of the biggest breakthroughs in education is not an easy task. Laying the framework for a successful implementation requires good planning, proper management, and strong leadership. As John C. Maxwell said, “A leader knows the way, shows the way, and goes the way.”

Arturo P. Dumlao Jr. Assistant Senior High School Principal II Isabela National High School