PARTNERSHIP. From left to right: Local School Board executive director Maria Dulce T Potenciano, Xavier Ateneo's VP for basic education Dulce R Dawang, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, XUSHS principal Rogelio L Gawahan, and XUSHS RLE coordinator Maricar C Obsioma. Supplied photo.
By Earl Joy Lopina
Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan Senior High School (XUSHS) and the City Government of Cagayan de Oro joined hands for a student work immersion program this school year.
Xavier Ateneo president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ, VP for basic education Dulce R Dawang, XUSHS principal Rogelio L Gawahan, CDO Mayor Oscar S Moreno, and acting city administrator Teodoro A Subuga-a Jr signed a memorandum of agreement for the Grade 12 Work Immersion Program earlier this month.
“This time, it is really official and we are now partners on papers," Gawahan said. "We hope this will continue and our students will be accommodated as promised."
Despite not having a sealed agreement between the city government and the school last year, the first batch of Grade 12 students successfully had their one-week immersion in various offices at the city hall.
In line with this, Dawang said that since the partnership still stands this year, a signed agreement is necessary.
“This will make the partnership official," Dawang said, adding that "this [MOA signing] will formalize the agreement, and make it legal and [lead to] binding partnership.
PARTNERSHIP. From left to right: Local School Board executive director Maria Dulce T Potenciano, Xavier Ateneo's VP for basic education Dulce R Dawang, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno, XUSHS principal Rogelio L Gawahan, and XUSHS RLE coordinator Maricar C Obsioma. Supplied photo.
As part of the requirements for the SHS curriculum, the work immersion allows the students to be exposed in the field as they are expected to be job-ready after senior high.
To show their appreciation for accommodating the XUSHS students last school year, Gawahan and Dawang awarded a Certificate of Recognition to Moreno's administration for their assistance and support.
Among those present at the MOA signing were executive director of the Local School Board Maria Dulce T Potenciano and XUSHS Related Learning Education coordinator Maricar C Obsioma.
The event also served as an opportunity to talk about future collaborations between Xavier Ateneo SHS and the city government – going beyond academic engagements and immersing within the community sectors.∎