Grandmother and Mothers Embark on Educational Journey at Northern Tacloban City High School

TACLOBAN — At Northern Tacloban City High School, the new school year started with a notable enrollee among its nearly 2,000 students: 52-year-old grandmother Rowena Taboso, who joined the school’s alternative learning system as a senior high school student.

According to Philippines News Agency, who last attended school 29 years ago, has returned to education to pursue her dream of becoming an interior designer. Taboso, married with two children and three grandchildren, expressed pride in resuming her education, aiming to enroll in college next year. Despite her age, she was one of the honor students last year, boasting a general average of 94. She is not only the oldest of the 28 ALS senior high school students at the campus but also a symbol of determination and lifelong learning.

Joining her in the ALS program is 26-year-old Ma. Irma Trinidad, who manages her educational aspirations alongside her responsibilities as a mother to a Grade 4 daughter and a toddler. Trinidad, who had to quit school after elementary to work and care for her blind mother, is driven by her goal to become a teacher. Her educational journey is supported by her husband, who works as a vendor earning PHP400 daily. The ALS system accommodates their schedules, requiring attendance only two or three times a week, with modular learning on other days.

Ariz Fritz Almaden, the school’s ALS coordinator, highlighted the unique challenges faced by older students like Taboso and Trinidad, especially those who completed their junior high school before the K-12 Basic Education Program was implemented. The focus for educators is to “unpack” the competencies needed, simplifying lessons to help students catch up effectively.

Northern Tacloban City High School, located in New Kawayan, was established to serve families relocated from coastal communities devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. This year, the school welcomes around 1,800 students, demonstrating a commitment to educational accessibility and community rebuilding.