The professional high school curriculum for the last 2 years of K-12 Plan

(Conclusion of series on P-Noy’s K-12 Educational Plan)

Since President Noynoy Aquino decided to work out the K-12 educational mandate, major business conglomerates have expressed their strong support to help implement it. The most recent is the Aboitiz Foundation who signed a memo of agreement with Education Secretary Armin Luistro. Executives of the country’s top 1,000 corporations, Philippine Business for Education (PBED) headed by Ramon del Rosario Jr. and whose board members are Lance Gokongwei, Felipe Gozon of GMA, Shell’s Edgar Chua, PLDT Chairman Manuel Pangilinan, Oscar Hilado of Phinma, Lopez Holdings, Yuchengco Group, SGV,Ayala Corp. etc. Also welcoming the challenge of government in reforming the conventional curriculum is the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the largest business group in the country.

What remains now is the harmonious effort of public and private educators to present a viable and result-based Basic Education and teacher training reforms. These business executives would expect a professionally managed long term scheme to get things done. This is an extremely sensitive issue for government action usually ends when the donations run out. The United Nations is intensely reminding all member states to make their national developmental plan sustainable to meet the UN Millennium Development Goal 2015.

The halbstarke generation

The German word for teenagers is halbstarke, “the half-strong”. The high school students are no longer intelligent as when they were in grade school. Their energy is different. No longer academically oriented (left brain) they conceptualize things creatively (right brain). Now as they enter the adult world, work projects which are economically rewarding, are more challenging.

Since they are misunderstood, scolded frequently for failing grades or frequent absences, they are prone to depression and loss of self esteem. One should not wonder why they are vulnerable to a host of serious problems like suicide, teen-age pregnancy, alcohol and drugs or criminality.

Teenagers must be helped to adapt quickly. There is a continuous opening of careers while traditional employment is revolutionizing. Even laborers need education otherwise they are just a pair of hands acting without seeing the relation of their work to society. If people understand this, would there be need for strikes?

Adolescents as they mature are treated like babies. At 14 to 16 they are still threatened with “bad marks.” Since his future employment depends on these marks, study becomes a heavy and crushing load. Leading the adolescent to economic independence requires a school of technical experience in work, academic learning and community life. This refers to the scuola professionale of Italy likewise practiced in western countries like Germany, France and Scandinavia and Australia, whereby their six-year high school engages students in technical skills training in the last two years. We have to rouse teenagers who are passively maintained by their families from inertia. A technical high school curriculum would teach the value of time and one’s own power. The work does not hinder study but makes study better. Working students are generally the best and most successful scholars.

The professional high school curriculum

The word “professional” in the scuola professionale means excellent skills training by qualified trainors towards a paying job.

As early as the ’70s, Washington Sycip, president of the prestigious accounting firm of SGV with subsidiaries all over Asia, noted that the competence of the average college graduate in the Philippines is equivalent to that of a high school graduate in Taiwan. Moreover, the spirit of entrepreneurship is not ingrained in the Filipino psyche; otherwise our economy could surge forward. 

Since 1966, a culture-loaded continuum curriculum, the Cosmic Curriculum has been working efficiently at the O.B. Montessori schools from preschool, elementary school to the professional high school. All subjects in Language, Filipino, Math and Geometry, Social Studies (integration of Geography, History, Philippine Governance, Botany and Zoology ) Physics and Chemistry make use of universally-tested hands-on materials which condition the students to love work and be self-confident.

The OBMCI Professional High School program makes use of more subjects than are required by DEPED. Its activities develop economic independence among the students. Since 1981 up to the present, the Technology and Livelihood Education of OBMCI Professional High School was perfected. In 1995, the OB Montessori College opened to give a ladderized course leading to Bachelor in Food Management major in Food Service.

A large kitchen and stockroom provide the needs of the high school bistros. Stainless steel counters display both hot and chilled food for lunch. The menu may range from cream soup, pizzas, Korean Beef, Thai Bagoong Rice with Green Mango, Moroccan Kebabs, etc. averaging P70 a dish. A combo plate of Chicken Parmigiana, pasta and soup cost P80. Throughout the year, all high school students take turns working in the bistro kitchen and counter with a chef and Home Arts teacher.

The Freshmen class put up an exhibit, “Science in the Kitchen”. Schools in the neighborhood are invited to see how cooking makes protein, carbohydrate and fat more digestible. Demonstrations show that heat pops the corn, fry or boil eggs, caramelize fruits, while freezing solidifies the popsicles or sherbets.

The Sophomores focus on Nutrition and Dietetics, trying out diets for gaining weight or reducing obesity. Special menus for patients with diabetes, kidney or heart trouble are prepared.

Gains from food business fund outreach programs

The Junior high school students specialize in Meal Management. Activities include menu planning for Rainbow Catering of preschoolers’ birthday parties. Parents prefer this, instead of Jollibee parties at P4,700 for 30 kids. This includes giveaways, invitations, and food choices with Disney, Circus, Indian or Fiesta sa Nayon themes. High school caterers in costumes matching the themes conduct a variety of fun activities. Annually In February, a Valentine formal dinner at P350 per person includes a three course menu, Zuppa di Spinaci, Pesce con Amande, Saffron Rice and Blueberry Gelatine Cheesecake. Total gross sales of the four branches reach P310,610, with P135,602 expenses, and a net profit of P176,017.

The pre Christmas Food Fair is organized by the Seniors. Twelve booths are set up in the school yard. Freshmen take care of Street Treats and Pinoy Kakanin; Sophomores sell Hot Wraps, Rice Toppings with Salad Bar. Juniors are assigned to Binalot, Ola Mexico and Meals on Wheels. (A jeepney façade decorates the booth.) The Seniors are assigned to take charge of a typical “sari-sari store”. Their ice cream and shakes bar are popular.

The course of Food Technology processes bottled mango, pineapple, guava marmalades, jams and jellies. Ilocano sausages, tocino and caramelized ham sell fast like the fruit jams. Christmas pasta and cookie boxes are very popular. The bulk of buyers are the school students, parents, guest teachers and students from public schools in the area who regularly attend the Food Fair. The volume of sales has quadrupled since 1990. The food merchandise prepared by these young adults maintain excellent standards of flavor, texture and packaging.

The course in Basic Accounting and Bookkeeping enable the students and their Food Tech and Culinary teachers to calculate expenses and earnings. Now, the Greenhills headquarters makes a gross sale of P300,000 with a P77,000 budget while the smaller schools of Sta. Ana, Las Piñas and Angeles, Pampanga average P40,000 budget each, making a gross sale of P100,000. The profit has funded complete sets of kitchen equipment and maintenance budget. The rest goes to helping our outreach Pagsasarili Pre-schools in Metro Manila. Last year, the net revenue was P267,784. 

Additional 2 years of high school can empower undeprivileged Filipinos with professional training

For more than a decade TESDA budget went to scholarships instead of providing well-equipped training laboratories and providing good salaries to professional trainors, so we lose them. There is no shortcut to a successful entrepreneurship program. So many disadvantaged men and women could have been trained as garden maintenance workers or stockroom clerks. The public demand is big for licensed automotive workers, plumbers, bricklayers, masons, electricians, etc. Adding two years to technical high school to K-12 can empower millions of underprivileged Filipinos.