SM Group school building supports Tarlac school's leap to integrated education

Integrated schools have become a key component of Philippine education as they provide a seamless path from elementary to high school.

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The new school building turned over by SM Prime and SM Foundation supports Jefmin Elementary School (JES) in Concepcion, Tarlac in its goal to become an Integrated School, which will let the school accommodate students up to junior high.

By combining multiple grade levels under one roof, these schools help communities accommodate growing student populations and prevent interruptions in learning.

Their role became even more crucial with the rollout of the K-12 program, which allowed students to complete the full cycle of basic education without gaps.

Jefmin Elementary School (JES) in Concepcion, Tarlac, is in the midst of a metamorphosis that mirrors this. From an elementary school, it is working to become an Integrated School that will carry students seamlessly through kindergarten to junior high school.

JES Principal Anthonette Lampa said the school is well-positioned for the transition, citing the school's strong performance on achievement tests as well as its successes in curricular and co-curricular competitions.

But she emphasized that a school building is a critical missing piece: "For the integrated school, we prioritize the classrooms. If we do not have classrooms, even with approved documents, where will we house the students? The paperwork for that is easy, but securing the classrooms and teachers for our learners is the real challenge," she explained.