A public secondary school in the town of Calinog, Iloilo has been chosen as one of the finalists in the World’s Best School Prize by T4 Education (T4), a global education organization.
Malitbog National High School (MNHS) is the only school in the Philippines that made it to the Top 10 for the Support Healthy Lives category.
As a finalist, MNHS will be given the opportunity to present its best practice at World Education Week, which will take place from October 17 to 21.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the school implemented a program “to promote physical, mental, and social health” among its students.
MNHS has more than 1000 students, 90 percent of whom “fall below the poverty line” and 60 percent were “malnourished when they started school.”
Projects and activities under the school’s Happy and Healthy School Program (HHS) include “home gardening, home-based wellness, advocating a healthy diet, clean water and sanitation, and mental health advocacy.”
The school was also able to raise P2 million to fund the purchase of disinfectants, printers and paper for remote learning.
“With every home becoming a classroom during the pandemic, the household and wider community has been every bit as important to this program as the school,” T4 Education said.
Dr. Jesus Insilada, Principal II of MNHS, said they are delighted that their school secured a spot in the final list and are hopeful to be one of the three winners for the category.
“We are very happy that our program is getting recognition internationally. To be part of the final shortlist is already a huge achievement,” he told IMT NEWS.
The winners, according to T4 Education founder and CEO Vikas Pota, “will be chosen based upon rigorous criteria by a judging academy which includes distinguished leaders all across the globe.”
Each winner will receive $50,000 or about P2.6 million.
Insilada said should they win, the prize money will be used to create a Happy and Healthy Park “where individuals can discuss issues impacting the community.”
The principal shared that their program is anchored on their advocacy that spreads hope and optimism especially during difficult times.
“Every problem has a solution and we can always rise above challenges as one body,” he stressed.IMT
Photo by Nomerech Basan
