Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro graced the launching of the Tboli Senior High School (TSHS,) a first-of its kind culture based senior high school program at Lake Sebu, South Cotabato which is geared towards the sustainable management of indigenous culture and tradition.
Luistro said, the TSHS program which is undertaken by the Department of Education’s K to 12 program in partnership with the Ateneo de Davao University, is a wonderful tribute to the vision, life and culture left behind by Be’Lang Dulay, conferred as a national living treasure who hails from Lake Sebu. She died recently due to mild stroke.
“In part of what we celebrate this morning, the life of Lang Dulay is relived through the senior high school program.” Luistro said,
He asked everyone in prayer that Lang Dulay’s dreams translated into T’nalak weaving will be an inspiration to challenge everyone to continue her living tradition.
He added, the putting up of the TSHS is the new way of looking at education in such a way that looking back at the past though cultural preservation is the very foundation of education.
He likewise challenged DepEd 12 officials to continue the program.
“ You have started the program, you have the template, you will be the model on how the (education) department will be responsive to the new ways of understanding our culture and our learners. Show us the way on how we will recover that Filipino soul.”Luistro said,
DepEd Region 12 Director Allan Farnazo said, the TSHS will be developed in areas of curriculum development, teacher training and mentoring and research.
Starting school year 2015-2016, the TSHS will accept the first batch of the 45 Grade 11 students which will be attached to the Lake Sebu National High School during its initial years of operation.
Eventually, it will be envisioned to become a “stand-alone” public Senior High School in the years to come.
The program is designed following the Vocational Livelihood Track which focuses on Sustainable Community Resource Management with the options on Agriculture and Ecotourism.
In partnership with the community elders and other educational stakeholders the program will follow a cultural-based senior high school curriculum which will be responsive to the context of Tboli community.
Farnazo added, the program intends to develop graduates who are capable of developing and managing their resources thus creating sustainable livelihood and development opportunities for their communities.
“ This will equip them with entrepreneurial skills to prepare them for small-scale business ventures or communal cooperative management.” Farnazo said,
As part of the launching program, officials of the DepEd South Cotabato Division, together with the provincial, municipal mayors, other local officials and private sectors of the province turned over their statement of commitment to Secretary Lusitro in support to the Tboli SHS.
The plaque signifying the aspirations of TSHS was also unveiled after the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon for the two classroom building that will initially house pioneer students of the TSHS next year.