ABSTRACT
This qualitative phenomenological study determined the implementation of Public-Private Partnership under the Adopt-A School Program as basis for program recommendation in the 5th District of Iloilo during the school year 2023-2024. The study used descriptive method using in-depth interviews to gather data. The twenty (20) participants of the study were the purposively chosen school heads, teachers and parents and LGU in the 5th District of Iloilo for School Year 2023-2024. It was found out that public-private partnership is the best solution to improve the quality of education as well as to improve the school facilities of the school, enhance teaching quality, better learning experiences and improve academic outcomes. The help and support of private individuals and the cooperation of the stakeholders in the implementation of the program lead to a successful and effective delivery of educational services. Results of the study have become bases for enhancing the implementation of Public Private Partnership (PPP) under Adopt-a school program to optimize benefits for all the program’s stakeholders.
Keywords: Public-Private Partnership, Adopt-A-School Program, Stakeholders, Program Recommendation
INTRODUCTION
The need for high-quality education that will inspire every young Filipino student to achieve and realize their full potential in all facets of their lives is primarily a grave concern. Along with other community stakeholders, schools are key players in the pursuit of it. In order to provide children with a basic education, public schools require the assistance of a variety of partners. For this reason, the Department of Education strongly advocates for the establishment of enduring and meaningful partnerships with a range of school stakeholders. By giving the robust and vibrant private sectors a platform to engage in nation-building through investment in Filipino children’s education, Republic Act 8525 cleared the path for DepEd and its partners to establish and maintain a mutual relationship (Mamawag,2018).
According to Section 2 of Republic Act 8525, the state is required to give Filipino youth high-quality, pertinent education and to support private initiative in promoting public education by establishing programs that reward private companies and enterprises for helping to modernise and enhance public schools across the country, particularly those in underdeveloped provinces. A private organisation agrees to sponsor a public school in one or more areas of its curriculum for a set period of time under DepEd Order No. 80 series 1998, Adopt-A-School. With the passage of Republic Act 8525, a legislation implementing “Adopt-A-School Program,” providing tax benefits, and along with other motives, on February 14, 1998, it is now being implemented in every school. This law is often referred as the "Adopt-a-School Act of 1998." It asks the private business to help in modernising and enhancing public schools, especially those in the nation’s 20 poorest provinces. Infrastructure, physical facilities, real estate, reading resources, technology equipment and scientific labs, nutritional and healthcare packages, adaptive devices for kids with unique needs, and other items are examples of assistance that can be provided in the form of money or in kind.
The Public-Private Partnership program is also a quest for the involvement of the community in the national development. The school, as well as non-government organizations, continuously undertake programs and projects geared to becoming responsive and effective components that will affect overall community development. A variety of programs and services are conducted by the school for the growth development of learners. It supports sectoral, community-based, or non-governmental organisations that advance national welfare. In reality, most of the schools have been acknowledged for their initiative to link with other non-governmental organizations and for the effort of channeling the students’ needs to other stakeholders for the sake of improvement and growth (Pulimeno,2020).
Along with a few other schools in the Schools Division of Iloilo, the 5th District of Iloilo is among the recipients of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Program under the Adopt-a-School Program. School heads, together with the teachers, and the recipients of the said program take the challenge to improve the different aspect of the school for the sake of providing the best education that the young Filipino learners that they cater could avail. The school is in the pursuit of engaging with more sectors that can provide help and support by whatever means they can.
Thus, because of the aforementioned reasons, the researcher decided to come up with a study that aimed to unfold the experiences of teachers, parents, and LGU in the implementation of the PPT. Furthermore, this study may help enlighten the mindset of stakeholders and change their perception that the school is not alone in attaining its vision and mission, but the community and other sectors can be a great help.
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