Assumption College of Davao

After more than a decade, the Assumption College of Davao (ACD) launched an organized campaign tour in secondary schools. Initiated by the High School (HS) Department, the school hop occurred last January 21, 2010. “This will be a benchmarking program of the department which will happen on a yearly basis”, said Ms Roni Mines, the HS Principal. Through the years, ACD is a usual destination of benchmarking activities of other schools, “we just took the challenge they asked us when will be our turn to visit them”, Ms Mines remarked.

Thirty (30) HS faculty members went around secondary schools and interacted with several school officials and faculty to study factors that contribute to quality and excellence in secondary education. These aspects are closely intertwined with the best practices of the school, teaching practice, curriculum, facilities, school management, relationship dynamics, interplay of academic-extra curricular activities and even the orientation and guiding principles from which the school is anchored upon.

The contingent was divided into two (2) break-away groups which simultaneously visited a total of four (4) schools. The first group went to St Peter’s College of Toril and Rogationist Academy in Baracatan, Toril. The second group visited the Davao Christian High School and the University of Immaculate Conception (HS Department). The school hop followed a similar program which usually starts with a conference on the Best Practices of the hosting schools and ends with a tour around the school’s facilities. The next day was allotted for reflection and feedback among ACD faculty.

The teachers have appreciated that they received a healthy dose of warmth and hospitality of the hosting schools –from the food they offered, the program they prepared, and the precious time they spared just for the ACD faculty to be toured around the school facilities.

Despite the rain and the time constraints, the school hop was both instructive and heartwarming. Ms Mines reflected that benchmarking is really an effective vehicle of learning from others to better appreciate what we have. The activity also reinforced the collective belief that ACD’s best practices are still unique from other schools.

“It makes us prouder of what we have”, Ms Mines said emphatically.

The benchmarking activity will form part of a series of school visit of the HS faculty in preparation of the accreditation come 2011-2012. The HS department is eyeing key centers outside Davao City for the 2011 school tour of the faculty members.

The last organized school hop happened in 1998 during the Educational Trip which was an institutional activity that involved all faculty and non-teaching personnel. They were able to visit several schools in Cebu, Bohol and Manila. The educational tour was a culminating activity during the 40th year celebration of the ACD.