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Tutoring
Program becomes A Parish Project-WHY?
Fr. Harald Adler, ss.cc.
SS.CC.s
See What is Lacking
When
our SS.CC. Brothers and Sisters began their pastoral duties at a
parish named, Resurrection of Our Lord, in Bagong Silang (a
relocation settlement for squatters) three and a half years ago,
they noticed that a large number of the Filipino children didn’t go
to school. This was because the parents could afford neither the
school uniform nor the enrollment fee.
To
help turn this situation around, Fr. Martin O’ Loghlen, ss.cc.,
pastor at Resurrection, began seeking donations from people in
California, USA, where he had worked in parishes and in education
for many years. Since the beginning of the new school year that
starts in March, this scholarship program started by Fr. Martin has
grown. It now helps more students and includes improved tutoring
services that are organized and financed by the parish.
With A Whole Parish to
Oversee Why Offer Tutoring:
The Social Backdrop
Why did the SS.CC.
Brothers and Sisters, with a whole parish to oversee attach such
great importance to a tutoring program? I had already heard about
over-crowded classes and inadequate conditions persisting in the
schools. And that students in Bagong Silang rarely got the chance to
further their education. I wanted to get a better picture of the
situation for myself, and I asked Fr. Augustin Agus Suwondo to
accompany me. As vicar of the parish, he’s no stranger in the
schools like I am.
 In the
geographic zone that our parish is part of, three public schools
stand side by side; I visited two: the Kalayaan Elementary School,
(grades 1-6) and the Kalayaan High School (grades 7-10). Both bear
the ambitious word “freedom” (in Tagalog: kalayaan) in their
title.
I was
able to talk to the principals of both schools and to take pictures.
These pictures speak for themselves: children penned up in crowded
class rooms, some sitting on the floor because tables and chairs are
missing. In the high school, there is even a computer room but it is
always over-crowded. The computers are hardly ever idle. How could
it be otherwise –the elementary school has 6,668 pupils in 149
classes, instructed by 135 teachers in three four-hour shifts. The
class size averages from 50 to 65 students.
The high school has 6,089 students
in 62 classes, instructed by 117 teachers in two
six-hour shifts.
The school has 32 rooms at its disposal; the number of students per
class averages 110 to 120. An extension is being added to the
building, and it will be ready for occupancy soon. Then, according
to school officials, the classes can be reduced on average to 80
students.
Is it any wonder that with these
conditions the department of education’s goals cannot be reached?
For the vast majority of high school graduates, passing college
entrance exams is nearly impossible. It is difficult for the
students who lack resources to compete with students who benefit
from the stronger educational systems offered by a middle class
milieu. It is against this social background that one must gauge
the tutoring services for the 161 students who are sponsored by the
parish in Bagong Silang.
INTERVIEW
Here is an interview I had with
Sr. Maria Odor Malau, ss.cc.,
the coordinator of the program:
Q.
Fr. Harld Adler:
How long has the parish been sponsoring the scholarship Program?
A. Sr. Maria
The program in Ang Muling Pagkabuhay ng Ating
Panginoon, The Resurrection of our Lord Parish, has existed
since 2003. I became involved after my first profession in 2005.
When I got here the activities and programs in our parish existed
already.
One
of the important programs that we have now is a scholarship program.
We help those who cannot continue their studies because of poverty
or some personal or family problems. In the first year of the
program, 2004-5, we provided scholarships for 60 elementary school
students. In 2005-6 the number of the students increased as follows:
scholarships for elementary students rose from 60
to 100; for high
school students from 25 to 61; for college students from 15 to 25. 
Q.
Fr. Harld Adler:
In the elementary school, I
noticed that milk was served during recess.
A. Sr. Maria: Yes,
that’s also an important part of our service because many children
are malnourished, and some don’t get breakfast at home. We are happy
that now we can offer milk (dry milk powder) during school hours;
also, a few high school students qualify. The milk is
vitamin-enriched because the children seldom have any fruits or
vegetables at home.
Q. Fr. Harald Adler:
Because of the over-crowded
classes and insufficient conditions in the schools the parish
established a tutoring program. Can you say more?
A.
Sr. Maria What is interesting in this scholarship program
is the way responsibility is delegated at each level. There are
tutorials on different days, and most are on the weekend. Those who
are in high school are responsible to teach the elementary students
and the college students teach those in high school. Some of our
sisters and brothers from the formation houses come to help us with
the tutorials as part of their ministry.
Q.
Fr. Harald Adler:
What role do you play Maria?
What are your responsibilities?
Sr.
Maria: I am accompanying the participants for one year.
Some challenges and difficulties exist. As of now, the tutoring is
broken down into three groups; two groups are doing it in their
homes and the other group in the parish. My concerns are that we
don’t have enough space, tables, books or facilities for them to
study more adequately.
Nevertheless, I see
progress in participant’s grades, although last year some students,
especially elementary, couldn’t go on to the next grade because of
difficulties in their studies. We need qualified personnel to train
or give some formation to prepare those who are doing the tutoring.
Q.
Fr. Harald Adler:
In your
opinion, Maria, what is the success of the program?
A. Sr. MARIA: There
are many things that we can do for the children and we hope, little
by little, that we may be able to facilitate their studies. I hope
that in the future we will be able to offer them better conditions
and to give them a better chance for a brighter future.
Q.
Fr. Harald Adler:
What’s your last word about the project, Maria?
Sr.
MARIA: Most of all, I want to thank very much all who support
our work.
God bless!
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