Kakar is a school-less rural barangay in the municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao province. It is an old farming community where everyone knows each other. The barangay shares a border with another barangay, Ambolodto, which has an elementary school.
In 2020, the MBHTE conducted a TWG meeting. “I was Assistant to the School’s Division Superintendent then,” Maguindanao II Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Alma M. Abdula-Nor shared. “Our superintendent asked me to attend a meeting organized by the MBHTE and Pathways. A TWG was formed under AKAP and I am one of the members.”
Dr. Abdula-Nor recalled that there was a discussion on identifying “school-less” barangays. She suggested to AKAP Coordinator Salvacion Deano, to include barangay, Kakar. “I know for sure that it is one of the unserved barangays in the region,” she said. “My family once dreamed of the community flourishing, one where you can find professionals.”
From the 93 unserved and underserved (60 and 33 respectively) barangays in the region, the AKAP program identified two (2) in Datu Odin Sinsuat: Kakar and Dados. Dr. Abdula-Nor said she had told her family about the possibility of a school opening in Kakar. Her family members were happy to hear that, finally, their dream of having a school in Kakar will soon become a reality through the AKAP program.
From the 93 unserved and underserved (60 and 33 respectively) barangays in the region, the AKAP program identified two (2) in Datu Odin Sinsuat: Kakar and Dados. Dr. Abdula-Nor said she had told her family about the possibility of a school opening in Kakar. Her family members were happy to hear that, finally, their dream of having a school in Kakar will soon become a reality through the AKAP program.
As a teacher herself, Dr. Abdula-Nor knows that one of the important factors in learning is the teacher and the quality of teaching she can impart to her students. She also made sure the program would recruit a trustworthy and committed learning facilitator to teach kindergarten learners in barangay Kakar.
One Teacher to Educate Kakar Children
In its first year of operation, the AKAP program hired Ms. Aznyrene G. Usop as a learning facilitator. She holds a Bachelor of Elementary Education from the Southern Philippine Academy in 2017. She is 35 years old, and has lived most of her life in Kakar. Dr. Abdula-Nor chose her as she was both someone from the community and a capable individual.
Usop noted that she had difficulty teaching in the beginning. There was no permanent classroom then, as the barangay did not have a school building. So she had to be resourceful in finding a classroom, for her to use to teach Kakar’s young learners although temporary.
Sometimes she conducted classes in the barangay’s social welfare center, or at the Barangay Hall, which was available; and even in some of the children’s homes much to their children parents’ consent and encouragement. “We used to gather together in every sitio,” she shared. “We would go to their parents’ houses and ask permission to hold classes there. That was until the barangay lent us their hall to use as a temporary classroom.” She believes that it is the right time to make the parents in Kakar realize that education is one of the most important resources to help their children get out of the cycle of poverty.
She also shared that the enthusiasm of her pupils to learn inspired her. This is what pushes her to work even harder, despite the difficulties and challenges it brings. As she shared, quite enthusiastically, “I continue to help because I see how my pupils love to study and to learn.”
A Granted Wish
In 2020, AKAP was implemented in Barangay Kakar through the community engagement program implemented by the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) and another implementing partner, the Kadtabanga Foundation of Peace and Development Advocates Inc. (KFPDI). Through the support of the Australian Government through the Pathways Program, the community participation increased; with community members supporting AKAP in promoting the importance of basic education in the barangay. That same community engagement encouraged other stakeholders in the importance of an accessible learning facility in every barangay.
When the Filipino Education Program Supervisor Saguera A. Kando heard the possibility of the construction of a school in the barangay, she did not hesitate to provide a hectare of land for the building. “I was scared for the children,” she said.
“I saw them take the payong-payong (a tricycle) to Central Pilot Elementary School. The vehicles looked like they could tip over, as they were carrying more than what they can.”
She then went to the district supervisor at Central Pilot Elementary School and asked if it was possible for a school building in the barangay. This was to ensure the children could travel to the school without the risk overcrowding a tricycle.
Ms. Kando also convinced the Schools Division Superintendent to make Kakar a beneficiary of the AKAP-BM program. “It was Allah’s (SWT) way of answering our prayers, of our wish to have a school in Kakar,” she said.
“I have seen how different it is when people are educated; they are peaceful and not prone to inciting trouble.”
On December 31, 2021, the construction of a flagship school building from the MBHTE was turned over to local school authorities. Dr. Abdula-Nor said she requested MBHTE Minister, Mohagher Iqbal, for only one classroom. “He gave us a building with two classrooms and another building with one classroom,” she said. “He also gave away school materials, chairs, and chalkboards.” She also mentioned that during the first year of AKAP implementation, they found out that there were members of the community, aged 11 to 19, who had never gone to Kindergarten.
Months later, on August 01, 2022, Kakar learning center was officially declared a Primary School. The MBHTE gave it the school ID, 137152. This was the first AKAP learning center among the 93 school-less barangays that was declared as Primary School. With its construction, education became easily accessible to all young learners in Kakar.
Usop remarked that the number of students enrolled increased when the primary school was finally established. Some of the students were from different schools. There was even a third grader that had enrolled as well.
By: MONAWARA KUMAYOG
Communication and Advocacy Specialist
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