Module 6: The Why and How of School and Community Partnership
Topic 1: The why and how of school and community partnership
Objectives:
Explain what school and community partnership means;
Explain the legal and sociological bases of school and; community partnership;
and
Cite examples of school-community partnerships
References:
Ornstein, A (1984) Introduction to the Foundation of Education
Prieto, N. et al (2019) The Teacher and the Community, School Culture and
Organizational leadership
Let’s Do This
1. Based on your school experiences, list down ways by which a community helps a
school and ways a school and ways by which a school helps a community. Give at
least 5.
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d. ___________________________________________________________________________
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e. ___________________________________________________________________________
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Let’s Conceptualize
Opportunities for School-Community Partnership
Partnership implies two parties helping each other. Both parties benefit. This means
that if a school-community partnership exists, both parties benefit from the relationship.
Thus in the following paragraphs we shall present what communities can do for schools
and what schools can do for communities.
What can the community do for schools?
Here are examples of what a community can do for schools:
1. Brigada Eskwela – This program engages all education stakeholders to
contribute their time, effort and resources in ensuring that public school facilities
are set in time for the forthcoming school opening. It takes place more or less two
weeks before classes begin in June. This is a school maintenance program that
has been institutionalized since 2009 when DepEd issued DepEd Order #100.
2. Curriculum development – This can mean use of community resources for
learning. E.g. museum, elders of the community as key informants in research or
resource persons in the study of local history
3. Work experience programs – Business establishments and offices in the
community can serve as training ground for learners. A concrete example is the
Work Immersion required of Senior High School students. In this Work
Immersion, students are given the opportunity to work in relevant establishments
or offices in the community to work in relevant establishments or offices in the
community to help develop in them “competencies, work ethics, and values
relevant to pursuing further education and/ or joining the world of work… Partner
offices for immersion provide Senior High School students with opportunities: “1.)
To become familiar with the work place; 2.) for employment simulation; and 3) to
apply their competencies in areas of specialization/applied subjects in authentic
work environments (Enclosure to DepEd Order No. 30. 3. 2017)
Some schools call this service learning since it actively involves students in a wide
range of experiences which benefits students and the community at the same time
fulfilling the requirement of a curriculum.
4. Remediation and enrichment classes – Parents and retired teachers may be
involved in the School Reading remediation and Learning Enrichment Programs.
5. Youth Development Programs – The young may involve themselves in youth
development programs and develop their skills and talents, learn how to deal
positively with peers and adults and serve as resources in their communities.
6. Community Service – Examples of community service are students participating
in tutorial programs, community reforestation programs, clean up drive for a river,
assisting in medical mission; school head involved in planning local celebrations,
teachers managing programs, projects, activities; school band playing in fiesta
parade.
What can schools do for communities in return?
Schools may allow the community to use school resources. Here are concrete
examples enumerated by the DepEd Primer on School-Community Partnership:
Classroom used by community organizations for meetings
Schools used as a polling place and venue for medical mission which it may co-
sponsor with the Rural Health Unit
School used by the Rural Health Unit for mothers’ class on child care
School used as an evacuation center
School facilities used for community assembles
School basketball court used for local celebrations and barangay sports league
Schools conduct livelihood skills-training programs for parents and out-of-school
youths by using school resources
Livelihood skills-training for parents and out-of-school-youths by teachers
themselves
Let’s Apply
1. In short/long bond paper, illustrate with a cartoon or a diagram the partnership
between school and community.
2. School and community partnership enhances sense of ownership and sense of
belonging. What do these mean? How will these impacts on schools and
community?
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Takeaways
School and community partnership means school head, teachers, learners,
parents of learners and non-teaching personnel working together with civic and
religious leaders, alumni, other parents, non-government organizations, and
government organizations for the good of children.
The upbringing of children is the main and irreplaceable duty and responsibility of
the family. But with the weakening influence of the family on the upbringing of
children and with children’s unlimited exposure to modern technology like the
internet, the challenge for schools to teach the young has become even greater. So
schools cannot do it all. They have to partner with community.
In this partnership, children, the primary customers of schools, are most
benefited but school and community are likewise mutually benefited.
RA 9155, also known as the Governance of Basic Education Act, BP 232 which is
the Education Act of 1982, RA. 8525, Adopt-A-School Program Act and Agenda
2030 stipulate school and community partnership.
There are many opportunities for school and community partnership. The Brigada
Eskwela which is now institutionalized in DepEd Schools is a glaring proof of
school and community partnership. Schools with all its human and material
resources can offer services also to the community in many ways.
Let’s Check for Understanding
1. Can schools take the place of families in the rearing of children? Why or why not?
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2. What sociological reality in the Philippines and in the world demand that schools
partner with the community (Church, mass media, business establishments, etc.)
for the education of children?
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3. State the provisions of law that refer to school-community partnership.
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4. Cite additional examples of school-community partnerships that benefit the
young.
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Let’s Reflect
In what way am I involved in school and community partnership? What good have I
done to school and community? What else can I do?
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Taking it to the Net
Research on successful school and partnerships in high performing countries like
Finland, Singapore and Canada.
“One of the marvellous things about community is that
It enables us to welcome and help people in a way
We couldn’t as individual.”
-Jean Vanier-
