All geared up for growth, continuous learning
‘Our students have so much potential. Before, it was hard to give them real computer experience because we didn’t have enough units. Now, with the DigiHub, they can explore, create, and truly learn. It’s helping them grow in ways we couldn’t before.’
The new school building turned over by SM Prime and SM Foundation supports the goal of Jefmin Elementary School (JES) in Concepcion, Tarlac to become an Integrated School, which allows it to accommodate students up to junior high school.
Integrated schools have become a key component of Philippine education as they provide a seamless path from elementary to high school. By combining multiple grade levels under one roof, these schools help communities accommodate growing student populations and prevent interruptions in learning.
Their role became even more crucial with the rollout of the K-12 program, which allowed students to complete the full cycle of basic education without gaps.
Jefmin Elementary School (JES) in Concepcion, Tarlac, is in the midst of a metamorphosis that mirrors this. From an elementary school, it is working to become an integrated school that will carry students seamlessly from kindergarten to junior high school.
JES is one of the largest schools in the Concepcion West District with a current student count of 770. The new school building will provide a better learning environment for Grade 6 students.
Gearing for growth
JES Principal Anthonette Lampa said the school is well-positioned for the transition, citing the school’s strong performance on achievement tests as well as its successes in curricular and co-curricular competitions.
But she emphasized that a school building is a critical missing piece: “For the integrated school, we prioritize the classrooms. If we do not have classrooms, even with approved documents, where will we house the students? The paperwork for that is easy, but securing the classrooms and teachers for our learners is the real challenge,” she explained.
The transition, she said, is for the welfare of the 770 students at JES, one of the largest schools in the Concepcion West District. Moving to an Integrated School would allow students to continue their secondary education locally, easing parents’ concerns about travel and commuting costs.
JES teacher Tom Pangilinan credits the SM Group, saying that after the turnover of the two-story, four-classroom school building, they are now close to resolving the school’s longstanding shortage of classrooms and facilities.
