A school principal underscores four priority projects of her school

SAGUIARAN, Lanao del Sur: In her first State of the School Address (SOSA) held during the 2017-2018 Reognition Day of her school on April 2, 2018, a public school principal has highlighted four priority projects that her school has been undertaking before the school year 2017-2018 ends and beyond.

Rahimah Datucali, principal of Maito Basak Elementary School which is located in Saguiaran District II, identified the four projects prioritized by the SPT and Project Team as:

1. Project RAHIMAH,
2. Project RAHIE,
3. Project BACK, and
4. Project ACT.

RAHIMAH is an acronym of Reading Ability Hasten through Interesting Motivational Activities and Habitude. Problem stated, Datucali explained, is that 15 Grade 3 pupils are identified under frustration level and this is where the project is to address by reducing the number of identified learners under frustration level from 15 to 0 at the end of the SY 2016-2019. She said the root cause of the problem is insufficient funds for reading materials.

The second project RAHIE which means Review to Accelerate and Harness the Interest and Enthusiasm of the pupils, Datucali emphasized, is aimed to increase the MPS NAT results from 64.78 percent obtained for SY 2014-2015 to 75 percent at the end of SY 2019. She stressed the root cause of this problem is that pupils are engaged in household chores and farming.

Another project, BACK, or Back to school Action Concerning onward K-12 challenges is aimed to enroll 19 children, who were identified not in school, at the end of SY 2017-2019. Datucali said the root cause of this problem is that the pupils' parents are farmers.

The fourth project, ACT which means Active and Consistent/Competitive Teachers, is aimed to improve teachers' skills and competencies from 66.67 percent to 80 percent at the end of SY 2019. Problem stated is that 13.33 percent of teachers are not meeting the standard skills and competencies and the reason it was found out is that teachers have a lot of work at home.

Earlier in her speech, Datucali compared her school to a tree. Our school is "like a tree," she said. "Why? Because the school personnel and teachers stay, give and share their capabilities and their best in imparting their knowledge..."

She said the teachers should always be connected with the stakeholders to look forward for the success of their children. 

Principal Datucali enjoined her colleagues to just enjoy being teachers and keep on moving and growing.

As for the coming years, "we will be like bird," the principal said. "Why? Because In sha allah the SPT and Project Team will spread their wings to continue to fly and to work harder for the unfinished projects of the SIP starting this 2018-2019 and to look forward for coming projects for the improvement of our school and is all for the benefits and future of the learners and children."

She said anything is possible for the future of "our school children if we just believe."

School heads who struggled and tried their best to be included in the 120 SIP Level 3. Hence, "we will double our effort and even triple it to uphold our goals and objectives in order to provide things we think are best for our school children; we will never fail the school children especially their parents; in sha Allah, we are committed to you."

Principal Datucali appealed to the parents and stakeholders to "keep your everlasting support to your children and entrust them to us that we can produce more productive and good leaders in the future."

Datucali expressed her gratitude to Dr. Norhanifah Tanog-Angin, district supervisor of Saguiaran 2, for her unwavering support to the school, its personnel and pupils. Likewise, she also expressed thanks to the all those who witnesed the occasion. - RSOY/RSP