Effects of Community Linkages in the School Performance of Selected Economically Challenged Pupils in San Rafael Elementary School, Philippines

Imelda R. Razo, Ed.D.

Background of the Study

The question of quality which seeks achievement of high school performance rate is

always been a highlighting mark that resolves direction and utmost plans among educational

forums, consultations and assemblies. This national goal of earning quality education has been a

winding issue and been in a long run of many administrators for years, yet remained unrested

(Aquino, 2012).

The dormancy of said state educational instruction, particularly among suburb barangay

schools which considered this time as casualties of timeworn technology and obsolete school

resources, is traced as relevant ground for improvement. Department of Education (DepEd)

prompted initial responses like Brigada Eskwela, Gulayan sa Paaralan and the like community

linkages to augment self sufficiency in local resources while sufficing the supplements in the gap

of government’s provision.

The linkages of the schools in its respective communities for support have proven to be

effective in a way. The National Achievement Test Result for Elementary grades has been

significantly improved up to 32% in the start of implementation of these school-community work

based programs (Lapuz, 2007). It had also affected various factors in the school landscape

which one good angle to explore is the drastic effect of it to economically challenged pupils

(Delos Santos, 2010).

Statistics showed that 7 out of every 10 pupils in the barangay schools of the archipelago

are in line of poverty. This is a revealing truth that poverty is rampant in the country enough to

suffocate the potentials among young hopes of the generation though basic educational resources

deprivation. In an international consultative meeting with the United Nations recently, it was

renounced that mobilization of the communities particularly of developing countries, the

immediate surrounding the institutions, for significant contribution can be that fair square to

consolidate an over all scheme progress. The UN secretary for International Educational Sectors

further cited that it is like hitting two birds at a time. One has to extend help (the community) so

later everyone (the school) would be of help, all gearing towards a progress.

In view of this riveting fact, the researcher believed that views in this seeming solution

should start at a microscopic level. Hence, the feasibility of success can be best prescribed

through having it in schools where like programs are emulated. Depicted in some greenbelt

schools in Africa, the Philippines should have also its stand and make a try to get everyone

involve in the issue of reaching the unreached.

Anchored from above presented data, this case study is formulated. Its general objective

is to see the effects of community linkages in the school performance of selected economically

challenged pupils in San Rafael Elementary School, Philippines. Specifically it aimed to unleash

the concrete evidences of the effects in terms of the number of absences, scores in quizzes and

periodic examinations and primary health indicators; and, make an administrative definite action

to reinforce the linkages for the goals aligned in the Department of Education.