JOE MENDOZA
Aurora News Desk
AURORA, ZAMBOSUR—Education is a tool for progress and choosing the right education will get you there, along with one’s determination and correct guidance.
This was the no-nonsense message of Mayor Enrique Cabahug Jr. in a speech he imparted during the town’s observation of “Tsikiting Day.”
“Tsikiting Day” admires pre-schoolers, carrying the theme, “Bright Child: Sa Tamang Pag-aaruga Kinabukasan ay Maginhawa.”
About 37 schools and day-care centers joined the “Tsikiting Day” held recently and initiated by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) under Leonora Casinto, OIC youth development officer.
Private pre-schools like the Aurora Parish Kindergarten School, Aurora Community and Nursery Kindergarten School, Aurora Baptist Christian Academy, Oronela Development Academy, Child Development and Training Center and SMYRNA Baptist Kindergarten School also participated.
Some of the activities made during the day were the different contests that included singing, pop dance and draw and tell—all held at the Aurora Freedom Park.
“Tsikiting Day” first started in 1988 prompted by Cabahug’s implementation of the early childhood education in every barangay by establishing Day Care Centers.
The MSWD is tasked to supervise day-care centers and give an annual training for day-care workers to update them on teaching techniques.
To date, some 25 pre-schoolers were able to avail of free schooling in day-care centers.
All these efforts have been funded by the municipality from the 20 percent Development Fund of the LGU for education, culture and sports and manpower development, including the maintenance of day-care centers.
For Casinto, parents’ involvement in the programs and projects of the centers is a must, as she believes that if parents work hand in hand with the day-care workers, quality education is easily attained.
Although there are strategic directions from the MSWD for day-care centers to conduct a periodic meeting with parents, success tends to be easy when parents’ obligatory presence and day-care workers’ performance is at hand.