Welcome to HVWSHE

Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region III
Division of Nueva Ecija
BONGABON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Bongabon, Nueva Ecija

HUMAN VALUES-BASED WATER, SANITATION, AND HYGIENE EDUCATION: Bongabon National High
School Experience

Bongabon National High School is located at Brgy. Sinipit, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is a fiscal autonomous secondary school located at the foot of the Sierra Madre mountain range comprising of 3, 887 students and 120 faculty and staff.

The school was headed by Dr. Aurora V. Pajarillaga. Through her initiatives, the school gained a lot of improvements physically and academically. We now have 48 instructional classrooms including science laboratories, computer and internet laboratories, and Technology and Livelihood Education laboratory, 11 offices, and 10 non-instructional rooms such as library, clinic, multi-purpose hall, ALS room, rehearsal room, FPTCA office, guard house, and school canteens.

BNHS has sustained its momentum and dynamism as a pilot and model school in the region. One of the great achievements of the school is when it was adopted by Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO-INNOTECH) on January 16, 2001. Then on March 27, 2003, BNHS was chosen to be a member of SEAMEO Regional Coalition of Schools on Quality and Equity in Education (RCS-QEE).

As one of the five SEAMEO- QEE schools in the Philippines, BNHS became initiator of several projects and transformations in the region such as Movement for Best Example and Transformed School Learning Center concept. And at present, BNHS was chosen to be the pilot school in the region in promoting Human Values-Based Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Education.

Recognizing the need for promoting Human Values-Based Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Education in theoretical and applied education of students, the Bongabon National High School, headed by the principal Dr. Aurora V. Pajarillaga has taken the following preliminary steps towards achieving the goal of HVWSHE.

In the year 2006, Bongabon National High School formally introduced HVWSHE project to its faculty and staff. This was after Ms. Mary Claire V. Cabog represented Bongabon National High School as one of the Philippine delegates in the Regional Workshop on Developing Teaching and Learning Materials for Integrating Human Values in Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Education in Southeast Asian Schools held on November 29 to December 01, 2006 at SEAMEO INNOTECH Quezon City, Philippines where she learned about HVWSHE and its perspective. This was followed by a Regional Review Meeting on Developing Teaching and Learning Materials for Integrating Human Values in Water, Hygiene and Sanitation Education in Southeast Asian Schools held at Jakarta, Indonesia on January 31 to February 2, 2007 where Ms. Cabog together with Ms. Jessica Balatbat of Capaz West Central School represented the country again.

With existing programs, projects, and policies towards waste segregation, water and energy conservation, and beautification of the school, Bongabon National High School immediately realigned these projects to meet HVWSHE goals. Water conservation and sanitation has been a major undertaking inside the school premises.

Students of Bongabon National High School have long been aware of guidelines on cleanliness and water conservation even before HVWSHE. Initially, bringing HVWSHE in the classroom is quite difficult. But teachers later on realized that they are already teaching water conservation in subject areas such as MAPEH (health), Science, and Technology and Livelihood Education. This information made the integration of HVWSHE in the major subject areas possible and easier. Subject teachers utilized existing lessons while giving more emphasis on proper water use. The integration has been strengthened when the resource package has been completed since it expands to different subject areas wherein HVWSHE can be integrated.
As the pilot school in Nueva Ecija in promoting HVWSHE and named as the “Most Effective Secondary School in Region III” it is a must for BNHS to be a role model in the project. Through the support of Regional Education Supervisor Crispina Zafra, a planning conference on Integrating Human Values-based Water, sanitation, and Hygiene Education was held in Bongabon National High School where other schools were named to integrate HVWSHE in the five major subject areas.

The promotion of HVWSHE encouraged the reorganization of student organizations such as the Youth for Environment in Schools – Organizations (YES – O), and Greenscout International. Student members attended summer seminar-workshops which provided them insights on how to improve the school’s present situation on improving the environment. As one of the organization’s project, they conducted campaign and information drive on water conservation and sanitation not only in the school but also in the whole community.

In 2007 also, some science teachers were selected to be co-authors of the Science Activity Manual across the four year levels. Some activities authored by these science teachers were HVWSHE lessons which are now being used all over the province by around more or less 40,000 students. This only shows that BNHS faculty is committed in promoting HVWSHE to the greater student population.

Having a strong relationship to its stakeholders such as the Federated Parents Teachers and Community Association (FPTCA), BNHS Alumni Association, Association of Barangay Captains, local and provincial government (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), and private sectors, the project HVWSHE was easily implemented through their help. They kept an eye on promoting the project to the community. Also they donated financial resources for the repair and rehabilitation of comfort rooms for the students.

As a result of the project, the students became aware on the importance of water in their life. They learned to appreciate the value of water as well as sanitation and health. As have been observed, the students learned to conserve and use water wisely as manifested not only in the schools but also in their home and community.

Through proper dessimination of information with social mobilizations activities, people not only student’s became aware of paying attention on joining activities to promote water conservation and sanitation. Everybody realized that human values palyed an important role and effects with regards to sanitation and hygiene education.

People working on it and the time that they’ve shared for the promotion of the program as well as their dedication and sincerity were believed to be factors that made the program successful.

Cooperation, sincerity, willingness, and patience in doing any activity will come out with a very successful program or goal. Involvement of everybody concerned (DepEd officials, supervisors, principal or school head, teachers, students, stakeholders, and the community) will make any project successful.

The Department of Education should implement the program to all schools.
A follow-up program and continuous supervision of the DepED officials on what is being established.
There should be trainings, seminars, conferences, and workshops for the teachers and supervisors to successfully implement the program.
Create and develop more resource materials and instructional tools for the project.
Revision of the materials produced is also a must to adapt to the learning environment or situation of each school.