To fast track the attainment of the Education For All targets by 2015, the Division of Dumaguete City of the Department of Education held an orientation on School-Based Management last May 7 and 17.
SBM is concerned with the “decentralization of decision-making authority from the central, regional, and division offices to the individual schools. The idea is to unite the school heads, teachers, students, local government units, and the community to improve the quality of early formal education in Philipine public schools.”
“This program of DepED is attested by collaborative efforts being shared by internal stakeholders composed of teachers, students, parents and other personnel within the school,” said Jacqueline M. Detalla, one of the teacher-participants in the activity. She added, “They are the prime-movers and the immediate implementers of change within the organization.”
In decentralization, SBM aims to a) promote school based management, b) transfer of authority and decision-making powers from the central office to the divisions and schools,c) share responsibility of educational management of local schools with the local governments, parents, the community and other stakeholders, and (d) devolve education functions.
The facilitator of the orientation was Dr. Orlando G. Cadano, division SBM coordinator. The activity was participated in by various elementary and secondary school teachers and the school principals in two separate venues at West City Elementary School and Dumaguete City High School. (Vicky Maquiling, DepED)
