A school renovation project amplifies the potential of deaf community
A dedicated teacher from PSD provides a hands-on lecture inside
their newly rehabilitated school building.
Being hearing-impaired is a challenge in itself, navigating a
world where communication relies heavily on spoken words.
In the Philippines, this challenge further creates a gap, as
opportunities for the deaf are limited, particularly in education and
employment. The struggle is intensified as only a few secondary learning
institutions are catering to their unique needs, with affordability and facility
conditions further hindering their pursuit of skills and knowledge.
A personal advocacy
Shery Funcion, the Principal of the Philippine School for the
Deaf (PSD) in Pasay City, is no stranger to these challenges.
Her dedication to the cause began with her college thesis,
focusing on job opportunities for deaf learners. Since then, she has immersed
herself in various organizations and volunteer activities, gaining firsthand
insights into the limited opportunities available to deaf learners.
She eventually became a SPED teacher, before taking on the role
of principal in PSD.
"The immersive experience really showed me how important
these projects are for our students—kung gaano kahalaga ang pagbibigay ng mga
pasilidad sa mga mag aaral lalo na sa mga bingi," she underscored the
importance of providing facilities for students with hearing impairment.
A facility that produces opportunities
The collaborative project of the Henry Sy Foundation, SM
Foundation (SMFI), and the Department of Education's Schools Division Office of
Pasay City equips students with in-demand skills that will prepare them for
employment upon graduation.
In the century-old PSD, their senior high school laboratory
building serves as the training ground for students. Its classrooms and halls,
no matter how old, have always played their role in honing and preparing deaf
students to have solid career prospects after PSD.
Amidst the competing priorities within the school and the
broader Philippine educational system, the facility barely had enough funds for
the rehabilitation and major repairs it needed. For years, students and
teachers worked around issues ranging from dim lighting and leaking roofs to
uneven floors. These not only presented structural concerns but also hindered
the overall learning experience of students.
"Our deaf learners need special accommodation to fulfill
their special educational needs. They need to have a conducive learning
environment so we can optimize the activities and learning programs,"
Funcion stressed.
Funcion further shared that the 2023 collaborative project of
the Henry Sy Foundation, SM Foundation (SMFI)—the social good arm of the SM
Group, and the Department of Education's Schools Division Office of Pasay City
could not have come at a better time.
"The rehabilitation of the Home Economics (HE)
laboratories is crucial because students need to fulfill their performance tasks.
These are vital components of our senior high school program to ensure that
they acquire essential skills and competencies for employment post-graduation
from PSD."
Through the collaboration, PSD has been provided with the
much-needed facilities in dressmaking, beauty care, cookery, electrical,
bartending, food and beverage preparation, ICT, and dance.
For Funcion, their Henry Sy. Sr. building serves as a great
beginning that will help pave equal opportunities and create a future where
deaf students’ abilities will shine within and beyond the four walls of
classrooms.
Through the collaboration, PSD has been provided with the
much-needed facilities in dressmaking, beauty care, cookery, electrical,
bartending, food & beverage preparation, ICT, and dance.
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