30 July 2018

Publications

SCHOOL-TO-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS IN CULTIVATING STRONG LINKAGES AND COLLABORATION

by:

Cris V. Regala Teacher I, Bayan-Bayanan Elementary School

One of the greatest challenges the country’s educational institutions now facing is

the establishment of close collaboration, strong partnerships, and solid linkages among

its external and internal stakeholders. Another challenge to be noted is the unhealthy

competitions going on among schools which was already a long overdue issue since time

in memorial. High performing schools tend to isolate themselves from low performing

schools in order to be recognized thereby creating a strata within the community of

educational institutions. The lack of sharing and collaboration among schools were

observed as one of the primary reasons for deteriorating education within the country.

The abovementioned issue was in fact not aligned with the Vision, Mission, Goals and

Objectives (VMGOs) of the Department of Education (DepEd) but rather a serious matter

that need to be addressed instantly to avoid chaos.

The achievement rates of the Filipino students are closely related with the lack of

collaboration and partnerships among schools and teachers as shown in some studies.

The latest result of the National Achievement Test SY 2013-2014 revealed the low scores

obtained by the Schools Division of Bataan both in elementary and secondary level. The

elementary overall mean score for all subjects was 148.83 with 74.42 MPS while the

secondary got 142.01 overall mean with 45.81 MPS which are both some points away from

the targeted 75 percent. This is just a solid evidence that in order to achieve remarkable

outcome schools must establish partnerships with other schools to adopt best practices in

leveling their performance.

30 July 2018

Publications

In order to counteract this problem, the Department of Education released the

DepEd Order 44, s. 2016 also known as the Guidelines on the School-to-School-

Partnerships for Fiscal Year 2016. This was in line with DepEd Order 83, s. 2012 entitled

Implementing Guidelines on the Revised School-Based Management (SBM) Framework,

Assessment Process and Tool (APAT), which has a primary goal of creating linkages

among schools and school heads that will steer the country’s educational system attain

its shared VMGOs by strengthening close collaboration, cooperation and partnerships

among schools at the local level.

Research stresses to the positive impact of inter-school collaboration on teachers

and teaching, with practitioners reporting an increased motivation to engage in

professional conversation with their co-workers, knowledge mobilisation and a major

shift towards more learning-driven and inquiry-based cultures in schools that have been

collaborating (Stoll, 2015).

In the research conducted by Ronfeldt et.al (2015) entitled “Teacher Collaboration

in Instructional Teams and Student Achievement” , results of this study proposes that

teacher collaboration has better impact to them and to their students. Most of the teachers

examined (84%) indicated that they were a part of a team that works cooperatively on

instruction. On the other hand, 90% of the surveyed teachers reported that their

collaboration was helpful. Instruction-focused and assessment-focused collaboration

were perceived as more helpful and extensive.

Goddard and Goddard (2010) stated that teachers are professionals and possess

unique knowledge about their learners and how they learn. When effective collaboration

occurs, teachers’ knowledge and experience are diffused and instruction is improved.

Teachers with various levels of teaching experience that more concentrated on

30 July 2018

Publications

developing pupils learning are most competitive in increasing student achievement

(Williams, 2010).

To promote partnerships among schools, as stated in DepEd Order 44, s. 2016, the

Leader Schools shall receive the funds which the DepEd allocated for the implementation

of the School-to-School Partnerships Program. The funds will be used by the Leader

Schools in providing technical assistance and sharing its best practices with the identified

nearby Partner Schools. The DepEd agrees that performing schools can be best

instruments for educational reform. School-to-school partnerships provides avenue for

schools to share their best practices and provide opportunities for low-performing

schools to level their performance and achieve quality and equitable education.

References:

DepEd Order 44, series. 2016 . “Guidelines on the School-to-School Partnerships

for Fiscal Year 2016”

DepEd Order 83, series. 2012. “Implementing Guidelines on the Revised School-

Based Management (SBM) Framework, Assessment Process and Tool (APAT)”

Stoll, L. (2015). Three Greats for a Self-improving School System: Pedagogy,

Professional Development and Leadership: Executive Summary. Retrieved May

23, 2018, from

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads

/attachment_data/file/406279/Three_greats_for_a_self_improving_system_ped

agogy_professional_development_and_leadership_executive_summary.pdf

30 July 2018

Publications

Ronfeldt, M. (2015). High-quality Collaboration Benefits Teachers and Students.

Retrieved June 9, 2018, from https://learningforward.org/docs/default-

source/jsd-october-2015/high-quality-collaboration-benefits-teachers-and-

students.pdf

Goddard, Y. L., Goddard, R., Miller, R., & Larson, R. (2010). Connecting Principal

Leadership, Teacher Collaboration, and Student Achievement. Retrieved March

24, 2018, from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED528704.pdf