Fostering Responsive Education through Sustainable School-Community Partnership in Tangway Elementary School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Engaging all members of the school and community of Tangway Elementary School, suggests that parents, teachers, and school head must take part in fostering responsive education through a sustainable school-community partnership. Parents are given considerable freedom to express their opinions regarding education, whereas in other schools, teachers are apprehensive of parental interference, however, a change in attitude is taking place as parents and teachers learn to work together and to encourage collaboration between the school and the community.

METHODS

This study made use of descriptive method. The respondents involved in this study were 13 teachers, 65 parents, and principal of Tangway Elementary School. These groups were asked to answer questionnaires that were tabulated and used in the analysis and interpretations made.

RESULTS

Teacher openness and understanding of the surrounding community is important in order for partnerships to be successful. Schools can be more successful with community involvement and engagement than if functioning in isolation. In the later year, the school was able to acquire a hand washing facility sponsored by Yamaha Motors, Lipa City. Up to now, with the help and collaboration of other stakeholder like Lipa City Water District, the school was provided with potable drinking fountain facility through school-community partnership.

DISCUSSIONS

There are a number of initiatives being done in Tangway Elementary School in order to meet educational needs. However, despite all those efforts, teachers and other key participants are equally important in supporting the collaborative vision of the school in obtaining desired outcomes. Likewise, there is strong evidence that strong partnerships between a school and the surrounding community can lead to improved academic achievement of students as well as other positive outcomes for the family.