Sarangani wages education revolution in villages

By Beverly C. Paoyon

ALABEL, Sarangani, Sept. 21— Sarangani’s KKK (Karunungan Kontra Kahirapan or Literacy Against Poverty) campaign to revolutionize education in the province has gone to the grassroots by focusing reforms at the barangay level.

In the campaign, Governor Migs Dominguez introduced the 3-in-1 strategy. The grassroots-level KKK enjoins the three groups (barangay leaders, parents and teachers) to collaborate towards addressing concerns and improving the delivery of quality basic education in the villages.

The governor said it is education that liberates people from the bondage of poverty and the key to produce better professionals in the future as he lamented “alam natin ang buhay ngayon, ang future is very, very tough.”

“The future of the children lies in quality education,” Dominguez said. He pointed out to teachers the importance of not just making students graduate but making them equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills as they graduate.

“Ito ang munting inspirasyon natin na sana pagdating ng araw lahat ng bata ay makapagbibigay ng tamang armas para humarap ng ano mang klaseng pagsubok,” Dominguez said.

He likewise advocated that all concerns on education should not just be left to the Department of Education to attend to but what is more significant is the combined effort of the parents and the community in raising the child.

Sarangani is anchored on Dominguez’ policy direction -- “it takes a village to raise a child” -- which explains his eagerness in urging local leaders and education stakeholders never to cease providing quality education as long as there is still a single child left not in  school.

Quality Education for Sarangani Today (QUEST) program manager Annalie Edday said institutionalizing KKK campaign down to the 140 barangays in Sarangani will address specific concerns as it provides a venue for a unified planning and counterparting scheme from major stakeholders like barangay officials, teachers and parents.

“Currently we are intensifying our education revolution up to the barangay level. We are glad that our barangay captains are delivering the state of education address in their barangay and the interventions the barangays have initiated and supported to help improve the quality of education,” Edday said. “Collectively, they also draw the education issues they will address together.”

KKK was launched in 2011 as a massive awareness campaign on the status of the basic education in Sarangani. This year, the launching at the barangay level is highlighted by the Barangay Education Address.

Jonalyn Mangatong, Baluntay barangay captain, reported an 84.40 percent achievement rate in Datu Abdullah Tondog Elementary School, the only elementary school in the barangay, for school year 2011-2012 which posted an almost six percent increase since the previous two school years.

The improved performance in education in Baluntay, she said, is an indication that they could hit their aim towards eliminating illiteracy.

“Ang ating mga kabataan ngayon ay nararapat lamang na hubugin natin ng magandang asal at patapusin sa kanilang pag-aaral ng sa gayon ay handa silang humarap sa karera ng buhay,” Mangatong said.

“Karunungan Kontra Kahirapan ay pinapa-igting at itinatanim sa ating puso ng sa gayon ang mga tao sa Sarangani ay magtutulungan para malabanan ang kahirapan,” she said. (Sarangani Information Office/Beverly C. Paoyon)