Project Sm: Stakeholders Mobilization

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The school environment is crucial to child's learning. Pupils will be more inspired to go to school if the school is conducive to learning. Maintaining the school environment as well as improving its facilities needs a lot of funds. School maintenance and operating expenses is not sufficient for the maintenance and improvement of school facilities. We need the support of our external stakeholders to do this job. However, as indicated in our School's Improvement Plan (SIP), participation of stakeholders' in Angela Ong Javier Memorial Elementary School is a problem that needs to be addressed. Involvement and participation of the external stake holders is very low in school activities. Out stakeholders play a vital role in helping the school generate funds for the improvement of our school facilities.

METHODS

The school organized its School Governing Council (SGC). Series of meetings were conducted on how they could work together to improve the school's physical environment. Grand Alumni Homecoming and Organizing Alumni Association was also made with the help of the SGC. Fund raising such as Fun Run and solicitation of funds lead by the PTA was made. Creation of the school's official Facebook Page and regular posting of school needs, publication and reporting of projects and donations of private individuals & NGO's, were done. Recognition of Stakeholders was also done.

RESULTS

In June -September, only 8% of the total school funding came from donations of stakeholder's. While School Donations from October-January comprises 50% of the total school funding source. Donations received by the school rose from 8% to 50%. External stakeholder's support / donations received increased by 42%. This shows that activities implemented under Project SM (Stakeholders Mobilization) were effective. Due to the increased external stakeholders support and donations a remarkable improvement in school facilities was achieved.

DISCUSSIONS

Organizing the schools, internal and external stakeholders is very important. SGC, GPTA, Alumni Association & Teachers plays an important role in achieving the school's goals and objectives. As the saying goes "It takes a village to raise a child”, the school alone cannot produce holistic individual, the school needs the support of external stakeholders. If the school can maximize stakeholders' participation, it is not only the physical facilities that will be improved, but drop-out crises and deteriorating academic performance can also be addressed.