The approval and inclusion of the new commission in the CEAP By-laws during the 2020 General Assembly of School Heads and Superintendents could not have happened in a better time. This development was the result of a long conversation that culminated with a Board decision on December 2019.
Now more than ever, the Philippine Catholic Schools Standards (PCSS) need to be practiced and implemented in our schools. It is the call of the time and the schools are invited to do a self-introspection. There is a need for us to look back and re-assert our Catholic Identity and Mission especially now that we need to adjust and sustain ourselves in the challenging situation that COVID 19 had put us all in. Aware of this, the Commission has been meeting and preparing activities for 2021-22.
The membership of the Commission will help in a seamless flow of directions and information to the other commissions. From the Chairperson, Msgr. Michael Feliciano I. Veneracion, who is a member of the Superintendents’ Commission, to the members who are representing the various education commissions of the CEAP, Dr. Pilar I. Romero of the University of Santo Tomas, representing the Higher Education (NHEC), with 2019 CEAP Catholic School Heroes Awardee Dr. Amelia G. Ronquillo representing the Basic Education (NBEC), and two who have been leading the technical working groups of the PCSS, Dr. Miguel Q. Rapatan for the PCSS-HE, and Dr. Cynthia C. Arcadio for the PCSS-BE. As in all CEAP bodies, the national leadership is represented by Sr. Marissa R. Viri, CEAP President and Mr. Jose Allan I. Arellano, CEAP Executive Director. With leadership and support intact, the PCSS Commission will do its part in fulfilling the goals that are part of CEAP’s strategic direction.
During the Feast of the Annunciation, the Technical Consultants on PCSS for Basic Education, the drafters themselves of the standards, benchmarks and rubrics, met again to evaluate the roll-out in the past years to see how they could further help our member-schools in their implementation of the PCSS. Results from surveys of the past two years and the feedback from the 2020 Gathering of PCSS Mentors and Champions led to the discussion on addressing the current challenges among other things and the designing of Online Orientation. The team’s resolve to help the schools with their ease of use of the PCSS makes one optimistic and look forward to what they have in store for 2021.
The PCSS for Higher Education is now 80% on its way to completion. The launching is set to happen during the 2021 C.O.N.G.R.E.S.S. Members of the Technical Working Group have been meeting for their write-shop twice a month since the pandemic has started to complete the standards and benchmarks with their respective rubrics. Hearing the members discuss proposed content per benchmark one cannot help but be in awe at how these great minds collaborate, be inspired by their reflections and be touched at how they want to reach the hearts of people working in improving Catholic education.