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the main program. With parents becoming more active in the basic
education of children, a program on parenting was but a logical next
step. Thus was spawned another complementing private sector initiative
in a program that aims to help parents become better parents.
Success is the Incentive
The program is managed by a multi-sectoral team composed of
representatives from the local governments, Department of Education,
the private sector, and academic institutions. Regular management
meetings are held to develop consensus on strategies, work programs
and benchmarks. Consultative meetings on budgeting for the Special
Education Project and transparent process of procurement have
contributed to improving the governance of local school boards.
Support legislation was doubtless a major factor in the success of
this program. Executive orders were issued creating the Special
Education Program and its executive committee. Another order created
the Bulacan Education Council, which is concerned with broadening
the education agenda to include higher and technical education. A third
issuance created the Management Core Group for the project to equip
parents in specific aspects of their role as the primary educators of their
children.
Since the program and the implementing bodies are established
though local legislation with the corresponding budget, the foundation
for sustainability is assured. It is, however, the active interest and
involvement of stakeholders, the parents, teachers and local government
officials that have made the program work. The collaborative process
and the incentive system help to maintain the momentum. But above all,
it is the sense of pride and fulfillment arising from the achievement of
the children as shown by their higher scores that will keep all local officials,
teachers, parents and the children, wanting to do better.
Diffusion, Extension and Replication
A number of factors facilitate the replicability of the project. Conference
proceedings, workshop outputs, minutes of meetings are on file. Models,
processes and strategies have been put into manuals and instructional
materials. The manuals for teachers and parents developed by the
province served as models for similar projects in other provinces such
as Benguet, Iloilo and Batangas.
120 Kaban Galing