The academe is one of the sectors greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department of Education (DepEd) reported that some 700 private schools have temporarily suspended operations affecting thousands of learners and teachers.
Amid the challenges, the Senior High School of SKILLS welcomed the school year 2020-21 with a resilient spirit. SKILLS opened the school year last September 21, 2021, with 170 Grades 11 and 12 enrollees.
Panagtagbo Orientation Series
The school year opened with SKILLS Panagtagbo, a series of orientation activities attended by parents, students, teachers, and school administrators. SKILLS Panagtagbo ran from September 16 to 18.
SKILLS oriented the parents on modular learning and flexible online learning, the teaching methodologies adopted since face to face classes are not yet allowed by the government.
Day 1 of SKILLS PANAGTAGBO. Pilot run of the face-to-face Parents and Guardians Orientation. Meet the brave SHS Team geared up to meet the parents.
Orientations were done face to face observing social distancing. For those with Internet access, virtual orientations were delivered via Facebook Live and YouTube.
Homeschooling Playbook
In her welcome message, Dr. Eunice Raz, SKILLS Academic Director, emphasized the crucial role of the parents in the successful self-learning journey of their children.
To help parents perform their crucial role in their children’s education, SKILLS published School at Home: A Homeschooling Playbook for Parents. The magazine-like playbook guides parents with topics like observing home schedules, managing distractions, and providing various forms of support from proper nutrition to moral encouragement amid mental stress. The playbook also informs parents about routine administrative processes to be observed with the teachers and administrators.
The playbook is available in Bisaya and English versions. SKILLS shared the playbook to DepEd and to its fellow social development institutions operating in various parts of the country.
Continuing Commitment
This year, SKILLS senior high school starts offering a Caregiving NC II technical-vocational livelihood course. SKILLS recognizes the medical industry’s clamor for more health professionals, amplified when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. SKILLS now has three courses, including Industrial Arts and Home Economics – Hospitality.
Upon graduation, a SKILLS senior high school student possesses a diploma for fulfilling the academic requirements, multiple NC II certifications from TESDA, and an industry certificate from the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. All these credentials ensure that a SKILLS graduate is highly employable.
At present, SKILLS is setting up a learning management system to make education virtually accessible. This new project further demonstrates SKILLS continuing commitment to delivering relevant, industry-driven education.