San Roque Child Dev't School to offer college courses

San Roque Child Development School in Yati, Liloan will soon be offering tertiary courses, beginning with tourism and hospitality industry-related disciplines.

This was confirmed by its president, Cesario Munez, through a document released last January 6 by the Commission on Higher Education.

After 20 years, the school now wins the approval of CHED, on third endorsement, in the establishment of a tertiary level and the renaming of the school into San Roque College de Cebu, Inc.

Based on a document dated December 28, 2011, CHED referred the endorsement to lawyer Lindeza Rogero-gavino, acting director of the Securities Exchange Commission Cebu Extension Office the Amended Articles of Incorporation of San Roque College de Cebu, Inc. ( formerly San Roque Child Development School), which read: "this Office interposes no objection to the primary purpose/s of offering tertiary courses, provided that this shall not be construed as a grant of authority to operate any collegiate course/ degree/ program without obtaining the required grant/permit from the Commission on Higher Education; provided further, that until a permit is granted by the Commission, San Roque College de Cebu, Inc. shall not cause the publication and advertisement of its program/courses in violation of Sec. 13, Rule III part III, Rules and Regulations for the implementation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 232 (school advertisement); provided finally, that operation, administration, and management of the school shall be subject to existing laws, rules and regulations, and policies and standards of CHED pursuant to Pambansa Blg. 232, otherwise known as the Education Act of 1982, and Republic Act No. 7722 otherwise known as the Higher Education Act of 1994."

The endorsement was signed by lawyer Carmelita Yadao-sison, director III of the CHED Legal Service.

SRCDS turned 20 years old last February 8. It is a government-recognized institution wherein its facilities, school standard and teachers’ qualification are fully evaluated and approved by the Department of Education.

According to its main campus administrator Sherrylyn Munez Cubos, it received its government recognition for preschool and grade school last June 2, 1997 and on August 26, 1999 for the secondary level.

Aside from their campus in Yati, the school has already branched out in Gabi, Gordova and in Dakit, Bogo and will soon be establishing another campus in Danao, Panglao, Bohol to meet growing demands for Montessori education.

This is because the Montessori approach deals with the practical life area in a Montessori environment which is fundamental education for daily life. According to Cubos, this type of education gives children the tools necessary to accomplish essential real world, grown-up skills.

"Practical life exercises capture the preschool child's natural interest and instill a sense of responsibility, care for oneself, for others and for the environment. These exercises provide the groundwork for physical, mental, and social development and the foundation for all future academic work," Cubos emphasized.

It was Maria Montessori who created a series of aesthetically pleasing sensorial materials designed to isolate one defining quality, property of concept which helps refine the child's tactile, visual, auditory, olfactory and gustatory senses. Cubos added that by educating the senses, the child is able to solve problems independently and analytically, building self-confidence.

"The materials have a built-in control of error, assist in developing finer coordination and help children internalize concepts. Sensorial education provides an indirect foundation for the development of more advanced skills in language, math, music, and other areas of the curriculum," she further pointed out.

The school started with just 280 students. Now, it has grown to over a thousand learners both in the grade school and high school levels. (MEEV)