ALKHOBAR, 17 September — The Philippine Community School in Alkhobar (Philcosa) has launched its own fund drive and collection of used clothing for the Red Cross (PNRC) in Manila.
That makes Philcosa the fourth Filipino school in the Kingdom to respond to the call for help by the humanitarian agency.
Dr. Ed Malagapo, the executive chairman and principal of Philcosa, said parents and school children are all participating in the campaign.
"It’s really a commitment for us who have something to share for our needy countrymen back home. Our small contribution will help a lot the PNRC in their humanitarian effort particularly to brothers and sisters in Southern Mindanao who were recently deported from Malaysia," Malagapo said.
The project is being jointly managed by the Student Board Organization (SBO), the Parent-Teacher Council (PTC), and the school administration.
Spearheading the campaign are Aaron Aves, SBO president and a 4th year student; Rene Lajara, PTC president for the the elementary level; Nestor Rivera, PTC president for the high school level; and Merlinda Ayen, the school’s academic coordinator.
Malagapo said they intend to make the campaign for the Red Cross a continuing project every school year.
Established in 1995 in the district of Tuqbah in Alkhobar, Philcosa is one of the three Filipino schools in the Eastern Region accredited by the Philippine Department of Education. This year, it has an enrolment figure of 240 students.
While some schools at home are still whining, Philcosa has began introducing the Restructured Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) to its students. The controversial new curriculum seeks to strengthen the four core subjects — Math, English, Science and Filipino — with a goal of making Filipino students more competitive abroad.
"Actually, we only have to concentrate on math, English, and science for this is needed globally. But, since we are Filipinos, we have to add as well the Filipino subject," Malagapo said.
Philcosa also strengthened the teaching of the computer subject as early as pre-school.
"We have to keep ourselves abreast of global demands. We want our students equipped with the current trend on information technology," he said.
Malagapo said, however, that the Department of Education in Manila should consider allowing the use of English as medium of instruction on the Makabayan component of the new curriculum.
Makabayan covers various subjects such as values, social studies, and history, with emphasis on patriotism.
Malagapo said that is fine but requiring the use of Filipino as medium of instruction "is a backward way of teaching the children especially of OFWs studying abroad," considering that many of the children of OFWs pursue their career abroad.