One of the strengths of the students in Mechai Pattana Bamboo School is their flexibility. Their day starts as soon as the chicken crow. As they wake up, they fix their bed, help each other clean their long and beautiful bamboo dormitory and take a bath. This is followed by their regular visit to their poultry and vegetable garden. Growing and nourishing their poultry and vegetable garden serve as their regular exercise. As soon as they are done in their exercise, they will proceed to their canteen and eat their breakfast. Classes regularly starts from 8am and ends by 4pm with an hour lunch break. After school, they sell vegetables and other forms of snack in the community to develop their entrepreneurial skills. Aside from being very active academically, the students are very involved in the governance of the school and its projects in partnership with their surrounding communities. This is the school's way of ensuring the bamboo school serves as a lifelong center not only for students but its surrounding communities. Thus, students are very involved in mentoring the groups of students from other schools and working with community residents. With all the tasks, expectations and strict policies followed inside the school, I can say that all the students are as pliant as the bamboo. They can all laudably carry-out their regular tasks well with so much enthusiasm and with great results. Truly, the school models re-engineering rural education. |
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Anneis a member of the Blaan tribe, an indigenous group in the Philippines. Inspired by the daunting challenges of her marginalized tribe, she is committed on her quest to expose the Blaan indigenous group to a wider world by improving access to education in their villages while preserving and strengthening their cultural identity. Archives
May 2014
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