TOPS Invitation
Sherry Capati
- The Philippine Education is in crisis. Aside from the much publicized lack in classrooms, desks, books, many children cannot read nor understand what they read, even in higher grade levels.
- In 2004-2005 SY Oral Reading Test (8.6 million pupils) - % of "Independent" readers (read with comprehension at the stated grade/age level in either English or Filipino) is as follows:
Grade 1 – 14%
Grade 2 – 14%
Grade 3 – 17%
Grade 4 – 17%
Grade 5 – 23%
- The 57/75 campaign is a national multi-sectoral campaign to reverse the education crisis towards system-wide performance improvements through a focused private sector intervention and community action. The goal is to decrease the dropout rates, improve reading proficiencies and improve achievement rates
Our group is called TOPS, Time out for Professionals on Saturdays. It is a non-stock, non-profit group of young professional women from various fields devoting their time on Saturdays to serve through teaching the less-privileged children.
Last school year, TOPS piloted on teaching some Grade 3 pupils of San Antonio Village Elementary School. A public school in Makati, it is subsidized and managed by the country's Department of Education. Makati's public preparatory and elementary schools require minimum fees or else no tuition fees at all. These public schools make it possible for the impoverished residents of Makati City to have the proper education that every citizen needs in order to effectively contribute to society. However, this is not enough. Ms Marilyn Macalma, the school's principal, pointed out that what is lacking is parental attention and help in academic matters. Most of these kids do not receive such help because their parents are working and their homes are not conducive for studying.
This is where TOPS hope to fill the gap. Our volunteers are young professionals and students who recognized their blessedness in being able to find themselves in circumstances that make it possible to appreciate and feel the joy of learning. They hope to transmit the same sentiments to these kids so that they in turn be motivated to excel in their studies. These volunteers have realized the need to share a bit of their time to give back to society amidst their own personal concerns.
As Mark Watkinson, president and chief executive officer of HSBC Philippines, said, "If you provide people an opportunity to give back and to change the world, it leads to a much more fulfilled employee; somehow a much more fulfilled person. If you are living in a very comfortable world, and you never actually get close to some of the challenges it faces, then I think you lead quite a closeted existence." He himself is a staunch supporter and believer of the role of a corporation's responsibility to help society.
TOPS believe the 57/75 campaign of assisting broad mass of students and not just creating few superstar students. We are looking for brave young women who believe in our cause and have the following indispensable qualities of a volunteer
• Passionate desire to teach young ones
• Constancy in fulfilling the teaching load assigned
• Patience and creativity
• Commitment in attending classes and seminar workshops
I invite you to inquire in this mail, sca...@gmail.com and join our workshop (see attached flyer) as we embark in yet another exciting school year.
Thanks and warm regards,
Chet Capati – TOPS Coordinator
cdevega,rnd
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.