Look ma, no pork: T’bolis show how

LAKE SEBU, South Cotabato— There were no government funds when it started in 2002, and there still are none today.

But for the past 10 years, the T’boli School of Indigenous Knowledge and Traditions (Sikat) here has educated T’boli children as if it were a government-run school or a private institution.

The school, described by administrator Grace Guay as community-owned and -managed, offers regular elementary classes, from Grades 1 to 6.

Guay said the school, which is accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd), is manned by four teachers who are T’boli natives.

“The medium of instruction is T’boli and we integrate indigenous knowledge and skills into our curriculum. We are proud of our heritage and we make sure the T’boli children continue to be proud,” she said.

Aside from learning to read and write, do math calculations and understand science, the pupils of the school—numbering more than 100 each year—also learn to perform T’boli dances, music and chants, as well as T’boli legends and life skills.

The school charges no tuition, save for P25 to cover the cost of their meals for one whole year.

So how does it manage to keep going?

“Our school is 100-percent dependent on private donors and nongovernment organizations. We do not get any subsidy for school operations from the local government, sad to say,” Guay said.

Among its regular donors is San Lorenzo Village councilor Marlene Po who, since 2011, has been regularly giving the school her annual honorarium of P160,000.

“She has pledged to do so for every year she is in office. She has been a consistent supporter of the school even before she became a kagawad (councilor),” Guay said.

Rough start

T’boli Sikat had a rough start when the DepEd threatened to shut it down in 2003 due to “illegal operation.” The Helobung Community Dance Troupe, which was directly involved with the school, came to the rescue and secured the necessary documents, including registration papers from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“In September 2003, the school was about to be closed due to illegal operation. A series of consultations, meetings and plannings were held, and Helobung worked hand in hand with the charity group Kesetifun Cultural Care Foundation Inc. for T’boli Sikat to finally operate legally,” Guay said.

From its simple beginnings, when its buildings looked more like ordinary T’boli houses, T’boli Sikat had transformed into what it is today—a school with a cluster of improved buildings that retain the T’boli’s traditional touch.

“In the past years, the teaching capability of the teachers was also enhanced through the series of training and seminars we had them undergo,” Guay said.

The school has since been graduating elementary pupils. One of its notable graduates is Rhealyn Baay, who is now a performing arts student at the University of the Philippines.

In 2011, Grade 6 pupils at T’boli Sikat ranked second in the national achievement test for private schools.

Guay considered it an extraordinary feat, considering they were members of the indigenous communities.

Methew Farah, the school’s principal, said they had no library yet but were considering putting up one and acquiring computers that could help their students learn better and faster.

He said it was the school administration’s hope that donations would continue to pour in so that these projects and other addendum to the school’s facilities would be realized.