Education as a Revolutionary Force

Our distinguished Commencement Speaker*, Vice Chairman of the ISA Board of Trustees Mr. Emilio Diez, Officers of the ISA Board of Trustees Mr. Elpidio Barcarlos, Mr. Eduardo Ong, Mr. Earlwayne Tan, Mr. Oscar Co, Mr. Enrique Te, Parents of the Elementary and High School learners, ISA Facilitators, ISAers, Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon,

The great South African fighter for freedom, Nelson Mandela, appropriately defines the essence of education in these words: ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’

It is in the way this weapon is wield —- the way education is put into work, that differentiates one educational school of thought from the other.

Due to the popularization of information technology, an overwhelming amount of information has become accessible to almost everybody, including children. The sources of knowledge have never been so diverse. The era where the schools and the erudite teachers are the main sources of knowledge is gone forever. The familiar passage ‘learning should not be limited within the four walls’ is totally stripped of its figurative sense. The ushering in of the information age does not only have a tremendous effect on education, it has a revolutionary effect. For education not to be derailed by this unprecedented revolutionary tide, the functions of the school have to be re-examined, the role of the teachers has to be re-evaluated, and the approach to study of the school children has to be re-directed. In short, this powerful weapon that Nelson Mandela is referring to should be redefined. Dear friends, to hold a weapon, and a powerful weapon at that, is one thing; to use it is another thing.

Dear Parents,

Iloilo Scholastic Academy has redefined education; and has bravely embarked on a mission along its carefully charted path in the light of the new definition. I appeal to you, dear parents and ISAers, to join us in this noble mission.

If today you perceive this campus as some kind of a promised land, where your child is destined to succeed, then you have not yet joined us in this noble mission. For this campus is not a promised land, it is a venue where quietly, a profound learning process is taking its course.

If today you attempt to find some kind of a brilliant teacher in this campus, and pray that your child will be in her class, then you have not yet joined us in this noble mission. For teachers do not exist in this campus, all ISA has are mentors who guide your child go through all stages of the learning process. These mentors do not teach, they facilitate learning. We address them as facilitators.

If today you want your child to be a good student, a child always receptive to what the teacher is teaching inside the classroom, then you have not yet joined us in this noble mission. For ISA does not have students in its campus. ISAers are interactive learners. You send your child to ISA not to study, but to learn.  

If today you think paying tuition fee and bringing your child to school everyday is the be-all and end-all of your responsibility, then you have not yet joined us in this noble mission. For the learning process of your child does not end after leaving ISA Campus. The learning venue has changed, from school to home, but the process continues.

For education to become a truly powerful weapon that we can use to change the world, it should not remain passive; instead it should be active, more so, it should be interactive. In the play entitled ‘The Learning Process’, your child, the learner, is the main actor. The school, the facilitators and you should play the supporting role.

As a matter of fact, the Department of Education is a firm advocate of the shift in the role of students and teachers. In many conferences and seminars conducted by DepEd, I would almost always hear DepEd officials admonishing us not to be ‘the sage on the stage’, but be ‘the guide at the side’.

Dear Parents, ISAers, the fact that you are here this afternoon, shows that you have been with us in this noble mission in one way or the other. For this, I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude.

Thank you.

* Jude Thaddeus Iledan, Chief of Field Technical Assistance Division of Department of Education Region 6, is the commencement speaker