The community and school promote cooperation

THERE are certain issues in school development that the community can help solve. Issues like increasing school dropouts and passive responses of parents to school programs are some perennial problems school face that affects school performance and student learning. Through the years, it is one of the goals of a school that student learning be improved through higher grades, regular class attendance, and lower or if not zero dropout rate.

Cooperation is a critical element for school development. Parents, the school and community should work hand in hand to promote the vision and mission statements of the school. All these efforts are geared towards the achievement of a higher educational learning. All the stakeholders of the academic institution should be aware and has strong conviction about the vision and mission of the institution.

It is not only academic learning as the central focus of the educational institution but also the health and well-being of the students. There are health outbreaks or epidemics that students are affected and that the community can be of great help in solving. The feeding program, cleanup drive, and medical and dental missions are some of the programs at school that promotes cooperation. These interventions have proven to be effective but it is through the efforts of all the stakeholders.

It is not only issues on health care which are probable cause of drop outs but there are pressing problems like child abuse, drugs, gambling, bullying and other juvenile offenses. The community can be an iron hand in stopping these problems through the cooperation of parents and the school.

On the other hand, to nurture the sense of responsibility, students may be encouraged to be ambassadors of the school as they engage themselves with community services. Students become more active members of the community as they participate in school projects and programs. Volunteerism gives a lasting and positive impact of the student as they acquire life skills and learning resulting to a more responsible individual.

For community projects or extension programs, parents’ engagement is strongly encouraged. The participation of the parents increases involvement in school endeavors and bears an impact on the student’s interest in learning. Apparently, academic learning is a partnership of the school, community and parents. The collaboration of these active partners would promote wellness as students witness the hard work these partners do for their education.

Brigada Eskwela is one good example of solid partnership of the school, parents and some private individuals or entities as donors. It is with the bayanihan spirit that the community shows a united action. The community’s participation manifests its full support to the institution’s program. Where there is cooperation what seems to be impossible is achievable. For Jane D. Hull once said, “At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.”

The community and the school should be united to realize progress. It is through unity and cooperation t hat dreams for development happen. It is the time when learning process comes easy for students, a utopia. ( Paid article)