By: SOFRONIO D. ARIZALA JR
Principal II
Nursery High School

“The waves brought unto the shore a conch seemingly of insignificant value.   Wanting in aesthetic, it remained unnoticed- pale in color, edges broken, shape deformed. At first glance, it is of no use. Surrounding the conch are litters that concealed it even more. It almost appeared like another garbage waiting to be buried under the sand. Then one day, a group of children were passing by the shore, and as they were about to take their next strides, they noticed the conch- empty, cracked, malformed. They decided to take it home and give it use, give it value, give it life. Thus, with their faith on what the conch can become, they started working on it, washing it dry, painting it, and adding ornaments. It transformed into something else…something better…. something of importance”. – The Insignificant Conch

The story above is a reflection of a seemingly-insignificant-value of anyone experiencing hopelessness.

Eight years ago, in a community where abundance of goods is a common scarcity, a need for an education was imperative. Due to the desire of the local government in partnership with Schools Division Office to have a progressive citizenry, Nursery High School (NHS) became not only a premise of learning but more importantly, an advocate of change. In a reclaimed area where mangroves are abundant and the cemetery is just around the neighborhood, it certainly will not pass to one’s mind that a gem is amidst the area. Proving to be keeping up with the demands of 21^st century learning, the one-hectare donated land is no longer an empty expanse but is now filled with the boundless dreams and aspirations of the youth. The future sketched by their dreams and colored by their aspirations.

With 81 entrants in grade 7 in its initial operation in SY 2012-2013, NHS escalates into an even higher academe with a population of 710 student-learners and 35 teaching and non-teaching staff. With growth come challenges. The goal is not only to increase enrollment but to ensure the cohort or survival rate. For the past three years, the average 14.25% drop-out rate is certainly alarming. That is around 83 student-learners. Where do they go? What happened to them?

An in-depth circumspection of various factors of drop-out will help shed light on this concern vis-à-vis Nursery High School’s attitude of meeting every problem with solutions.

There are factors considered as the main causes of drop-outs, namely Individual-Related Factors, School-Related Factors, Domestic-Related Factors and Financial-Related Factors.

In Individual-Related Factors, Lack of Interest / Distraction is the sole sub-factor. School-Related Factors present Peer-Influence as the only sub-factor. Domestic-Related Factors pose three sub-factors, such as Family Problems, Had to Take Care of Siblings and Parents’ Attitude Towards Schooling.  Finally, Financial-Related Factors show Child Labor as the main sub-factor.

The high drop-out rate is but a mere reflection of the society, not to give an excuse. The school has conducted various solutions to ensure retention from guidance and counselling to home visitation and enticing to indulge in co-curricular activities, but something has to adjust. Something has to adapt with the community to be congruent with the needs of the learners. Traditional school setting must evolve together with society, hence, the Alternative Learning System, commonly known as ALS.

In answering to the call of “No One Should Be Left Behind” and “Education For All”, Nursery High School is one of the four secondary schools in the entire Philippines which piloted the ALS-Senior High. This is for the learners who graduated fourth year in the old curriculum and want to pursue higher education but will not be allowed unless they are graduates of the K to 12 Curriculum. However, due to the passing of time, some of these learners have already families of their own and/or some are employed.  Their desire to continue schooling is not met by the regular classes held in the morning; hence, they opt for a night class which usually starts late in the afternoon until evening.

Out of the more than fifty (50) out-of-school youths and adults mapped, thirty-three (33) actually enrolled and attended night classes taking up Technical Vocational and Livelihood Track with specialization in either Automotive Servicing (NC & II), Beauty Care and Wellness Massage (NC II) or Computer Systems Servicing (NC II).

Truly, the great beacon light of progress has lit the shores of this barangay. Nursery High School in its establishment in 2012 has since proven that in order to create a just and humane society is to integrate the fibers of education into the moral threads of every individual. In the same vein, the quintessence of education is to allow its citizens to be self-sustaining and contributory. It is the sunlit path that Nursery High School is traversing brought about by the perpetual halo of learning.

Nursery High School is an advocate of change- teaching with care, educating with compassion!

“In the passing of time, the conch morphed into something majestic. Placed on a pedestal made of carved wood of Miyape, Bakhaw and Palopino, its place was secured. Strong enough to withstand the extraneous elements and remain steadfast amidst the harsh condition of the environment. It was also adorned with the shells of Libuo, Bagongon, Sisi, Tahong, Swaki and Tayom serving as the pillars of the pedestal, strong enough to be unbowed. The once insignificant conch became a trophy of hard work and success. Together with the conch, the group of children has, too, developed. They spent less time in playing and more time in worthwhile labor- always concerned that their time be used in productive toil”. – The Value of the Conch