“We’ve arranged a civilization in which most crucial elements profoundly depend on science and technology.”-Carl Sagan
C means combo-turbo campaign, which combines skills training with social responsibility, in order to achieve an unprecedented turbo multiplier effect. Santiago cited the “ Harvard School of Public Health’s Alcohol (SHPHA) prevention Project which closely worked with television network leaders and scriptwriters to incorporate messages in prime-time television programs to warn against drunk driving, and to promote the designation of one driver among a group of friends.” According to her, this is one idea that combines skills training with social responsibility to possibly yield the presence of the pillars for sustainability and development.
U means Unique Selling Point (USP). The development of a school’s unique selling point. The possibility of pioneering technology-based futuristic education projects uniquely depends on a tech-voc school. If it is a uniquely accomplished project, a USP can be established. The senator cited this possibility “students of automotive technician courses can work on electrical or hybrid cars, while students of construction/building trades can use solar-powered generators to work machinery and assist in building projects for Habitat for Humanity or Gawad Kalinga. In the Philippines, tech-voc students can partner with science schools on these experiments.”
R means research-based risk-taking. This is the opportunity to conduct research-based product or skills innovation contests that encourage creative and sustainable ideas from tech-voc students. A possible requirement of the contest is for tech-voc schools or students to have a partner school, and a community-based NGO partner in the target K to 12 locale.
E means ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) Policy-making and Positive Organizational Development. Policy development is an important component of the development and sustainability of tech-voc schools in the K to 12 environment. But laws need a systematic or step-by-step progress of implementing rules and regulations (IRR).
Santiago ended her speech by expressing a positive organizational development processes to energize tech-voc leaders and students together in creating policies, programs, and practices that support education for sustainable development in the K to 12 environment. To her, “Great possibilities can be realized if your varied gifts are synergized with the intellectual treasures of like-minded tech-voc advocates.”
The development and sustainability of TVET in schools within the K to 12 environment should be a priority among leaders of the educational sectors who shall implement appropriately by mandating teachers on their responsibilities on Based-Outcome Education (OBE). Our utmost gratitude for Santiago’s presence in the senate as a voice that constantly exemplify and deliver the interests of the educational sectors/marvinwacnaglidawan@gmail.com.
