ABSTRACT
This qualitative research was conducted to determine the stakeholders’ views, experiences, challenges, and coping strategies in the school literacy outreach initiative: as bases for program enhancement. The following themes were generated on the stakeholders’ views: literacy improvement initiative for the barangay, movement for academic growth from the school to the community, a development process that provide, learning skills and assessment of educational outcomes, and an activity that fosters socialization. Stakeholders’ experiences were: gained proficiency in managing program strategies, fostered professional enhancement, helped to interact and developed leadership, and achieved skills in organized program flow. Stakeholders’ challenges were: poor comprehension due to language barrier, conflicts with class schedules and limited funding, difficulties in capturing the children's attention, and few administration staff attendees due to conflicts with duty hours. Stakeholders’ coping strategies were: invite resource pers on for language, manage time and allocate funds, complete tasks ahead of schedule and provide engaging activities, and plan and manage time effectively. To further address the challenges encountered, the researcher proposed a program enhancement.
Keywords: Literacy Outreach Initiative, Program Enhancement
INTRODUCTION
The Western Institute of Technology Extension Services Center contributes to the commitment of the school in uplifting the literacy of its partner communities. Since in the past few years up to the present time, the learning institution has conducted several outreach activities, especially literacy initiatives which have a huge impact on the adopted barangay community and to its residents. The goal of the learning institution is to extend a helping hand to the adopted barangay residents by educating, guiding, and monitoring them for their development, innovation, and progression status.
It is widely known that higher education institutions (HEIs) fulfill threefold functions: instruction, research and community extension services. The third function plays a supporting role and is performed within the context of accreditation. This is in response to the clamor from all fronts to increase awareness of the value of higher education institutions (HEIs) to be more committed to advancing community development and become agents of social transformation. As Bergan (2011) said, “we need higher education that educates the kind of society in which we want to live, not just for the economy we would like to have.”
To actualize this commitment, the extension services center of Western Institute of Technology initiated a literacy outreach initiative at the adopted barangay of the College of Arts and Sciences, which is Barangay Camangay, Leganes, Iloilo. This program would be supported by the stakeholders of the Learning Institution and conducted this Academic Year 2023-2024.
As of this time, no study has been conducted yet to assess the stakeholders’ views, experiences, challenges, and coping strategies in the school literacy outreach initiative and so this study is apt and fitting. It may be noted that this is a common issue among higher education institutions in the Philippines (Deocarise&0Llenares, 2018.
This study determined the stakeholders’ views, experiences, challenges, and coping strategies in the school literacy Outreach Initiative: as bases for program enhancement.
The School Literacy Outreach Initiative is aligned closely with the institution's mission and goals, particularly because it emphasizes community engagement, education, and social impact. Focusing on school literacy initiative allows for targeted intervention of the children’s development, ensuring that they acquire foundational literacy skills early on, which is essential for their overall academic success; also, strategically leveraging resources and partnerships to maximize the impact of the learning institution's extension services.
Successful school literacy initiatives can enhance the institution's outreach program through addressing and focusing on the stakeholders’ views, experiences, challenges, and coping strategies.
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