Pre-Education Program

Contextual Strategic Issues:
The secularization of education in the 1860s brought the demise of overt Christian characteristics that had marked American education. (Mark A. Noll, "Christian thinking and rise of the American university," Christian Scholars Review, IX, 1979, 8-9.)

On the other hand, there is pervasive moral malaise, which has afflicted not just the bureaucracy and the power structure but even the citizens. (F. Sionil Jose, Looking into the future darkly,"Philippine Star, June 27, 1999, L-11.) Furthermore, F. Sionil Jose sees the Filipino family will splinter further as urbanization continues and there will be fewer workers on the farm where the family is not only a social but also a work unit."(Ibid.) Alongside this, Alejandro R. Roces says, Education is the answer to all our national problem. To go further, it is the answer to all the world's problems. It is not only the first and last resort, it is the only resort."(Alejandro R. Roces, World Congress on Higher Education,"Philippine Star, July 10, 1997, 7.)

In seeking the expansion of the government's preschool education program Rep. Heherson Alvarez says, Education is the single most important intervention in combating poverty and ending child labor."(Heherson Alvarez as quoted in a news report, Expansion of preschool programs sought,"Philippine Star, July 9, 1999, p. 5.) Max Soliven adds, He lived in a little 'jerry-built' house "in those years, just one step above a barong-barong. But 'fight poverty' You don't fight it. You overcome it. And the only weapon by which the poor can overcome it is through education - not government dole-outs, grants, gifts 'or through sermons."(Max V. Soliven, "Teach the poor to overcome poverty, not give excuses, deliver sermons, hold parades,"Philippine Star, July 11, 1999, 7.)

Considering the previously mentioned contextual concerns, there is a need to put up a Christian school.

Educational Philosophy of Pre-Elementary Education:

Since "formal schooling or another form of training shapes the person's mind and character,' and because God is the center of Christian education, the SARJ Schole Pre-Elementary Education Program subscribes to the philosophy that every child and every person, even if brought up in a Christian home, must consciously make a decision to confess their sins and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

One-sentence statement of the purpose:

SARJ Schole Pre-Elementary Education Program ensures the optimal holistic transformation of every young child.

Goals of the Pre-Elementary Education Program:

1. To provide infrastructure such as school campus, classroom buildings and administrative offices for the Pre-Elementary Education Program;

2. To develop and validate quality curricular program for learning competencies of children, such as Christian life, perceptual motor skills, language, cognitive skills (including numerical) and socio-emotional development;

3. To provide teachers with recognized training in early childhood education and be competent in Christian life.

Rationale of the Project:
Extensive research findings show a positive impact of early interventions and long-term effects of early childhood education. To put it aptly, quality early child education program makes a difference. This is where SARJ Schole Pre-Elementary Education Program is relevant and a necessity.

Educational Objectives of Pre-Elementary Education:

Cognitive Level:
The students will be able to:
- demonstrate basic understandings of languages and literature, mathematics, social studies, and other science-related subjects;
- demonstrate a basic knowledge of Christian living contents;
- demonstrate ability to transfer learning to different and varied life-situations.

Affective Level:
The students will be able to:
- acquire positive attitude toward study and learning;
- develop a conscience more sensitive to the teachings of the Bible;
- grow in their passion for moral and academic excellence.

Life and Academic Skills Level:
- the students will be able to study and learn from academic materials and from the Bible personally;
- develop their ability to state and explain clearly the academic and Christian living contents;
- grow in confidence to transfer learning to different and varied life-situations, and to analyze and solve problems.

Instructional Strategy for Pre-Elementary Education:
Teaching pupils information related to the core knowledge group such as mathematics, science, and world geography at the same time teach them on how to get information.

Curriculum for Pre-Elementary Education:

1. Communication Arts such as:
1.1 Language/spelling (30%);
1.2 Reading (50%)
1.3 and Writing (20%)
2. Christian Living
3. Filipino
4. Civics and Culture (SIBIKA)
5. Mathematics
6. Science and Health
7. Arts/P.E.