Seven (7) Directions of SSC
Direction 1: Live our Catholic Benedictine Identity
With the defining characteristics, standards and benchmarks set by the Philippine Catholic School Standards (PCSS) document, St. Scholastica’s College works towards the fulfillment of its mission and vision to live authentically its Filipino, Nationalist, Catholic and Benedictine identity. Rooted in Christ, the school environment allows us to grow and be transformed in the image of Christ and build God’s reign according to the ways of our Holy Father St. Benedict. Important in this process of transformation is the teaching of the Gospel incorporated in our daily living and in our practice of Lectio Divina and Ora et Labora as instructed by St. Benedict.
We deepen our appreciation and love for the Benedictine traditions, culture and way of life characterized by our Ten Hallmarks of Benedictine Education. At the very core of our Catholic Benedictine education is the tradition of academic excellence as a social responsibility. Ours is a holistic formation: spiritual, emotional, academic, cultural, and athletic. Ours is a nurturing, caring, inclusive and safe environment that promotes the mental wellness of each member of our school community. We inspire one another by our witnessing of Christ in our words and deeds, especially in our commitment to actualize the social orientation and mission of St. Scholastica’s College. We create and initiate programs and projects, collaborate and enter into partnerships, and support other groups to promote justice, peace and the common good; protect and uplift the quality of life and uphold the dignity of the poor, deprived and marginalized sectors of society.
Direction 2: Commit to the School Advocacies Anchored on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
St. Scholastica’s College is committed to poverty alleviation, care for the environment, women empowerment (gender sensitivity and inclusivity), and social justice and peace. Our advocacies, centered on our vision and mission, are anchored on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 1 No Poverty; SDG 5 Gender Equality and SDG 10 Reduce Inequalities; SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 13 Climate Action, and SDG 16 Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
Care for the Environment - Conscious of our imperiled planet, our “common home”, due to ecological devastation and climate change, St. Scholastica’s College commits itself to undertake and promote environmental awareness by offering ecological programs according to the level of each academic unit, adopt environmentally friendly practices such as waste management, simple lifestyle, reduction of energy consumption, tree planting, and disaster relief. We establish networking with national and international environmental organizations and join their campaigns and mass actions.
Women Empowerment and Gender Equality - St. Scholastica’s College is known for its pioneering work in women’s studies. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) recognizes this by appointing the Executive Director of the Institute of Women’s Studies (IWS) as member of the Technical Panel on Gender Mainstreaming. St. Scholastica’s College has established a Gender and Development (GAD) focal point office that ensures gender responsive administrative policies, curriculum, research and outreach programs in all units. The school aims specifically to train empowered women leaders for social transformation.
Poverty Alleviation - Through its social awareness and involvement programs, the institution exposes the students to the needs of the less privileged and equip them to participate in enabling the needy to mobilize their inner strength so that through concerted effort, both the rich and the poor may affect a positive change in the society. The Outreach Program aims to uplift the quality of life of the members of its partner communities. Different programs/ activities like values formation, livelihood, ecology and environment, health and education are extended to the partner communities.
Social Justice and Peace - The institution strives to build communities that recognize God’s reign and work in people’s lives. Its formation program steers the academic community’s critical awareness of current social realities towards a raised consciousness that consistently insists on moral integrity and social justice; engages in gender-fair education and transformative action; defends the ecosystem and promotes the health of the home planet.
The outreach programs of the different units encourage the participation of the stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, staff, personnel and alumnae) in social development work and collaboration with community-based organizations and institutions to promote a just, loving, equitable, and humane society. Volunteer formation, education and advocacy, immersion, and community services are some of the activities that constitute the outreach programs.
Direction 3: Work towards a Well-Defined and Quality Processes, and Management Systems
Guided by St. Scholastica’s College’s commitment to the “pursuit of excellence and quality Benedictine Education”, all units and offices will continue to work on improving its delivery of services and processes. A culture of quality permeates the entire institution and each member feels empowered to improve the quality of their service at their level of responsibility, and the school’s overall processes. St. Scholastica’s College establishes a culture of assessment and continuous development through Accreditations, Quality Certifications and Standards Improvement. Internal Quality Audits are likewise conducted and used in strategic planning, administrative decision-making and continuous process involvements. Crucial to a well-defined and quality processes and management systems is automation and systems integration.
Direction 4: Use Research as a Tool for Policy and Program Development
Strategic planning is a well-established discipline in St. Scholastica’s College so that it is carried out with regularity and consistency. A culture of research should permeate the institution to inform and shape its policies and programs. Academic research should be conducted by the faculty in Aid of Curriculum and Instruction Development. Studies can be made for policy or program development which may include facilities improvement, salary and promotions scheme development, restructuring of fees, and marketing.
Direction 5: Achieve Financial Viability and Human and Material Resource Development
St. Scholastica’s College aims to achieve and maintain financial viability to ensure its long term operations and implement its programs and projects to carry out its mission. Conservation and maximization of all resources are vital to remain financially viable. Cost- effective and cost saving measures, budget preparation and monitoring for programs, projects and activities reflect our value of Benedictine Stewardship. Implementation of fund-generating activities will also allow us to attain financial viability. The school not only promotes the holistic formation of the students but also that of its administrators, faculty and staff.
A Human Resource Development Program should include Lifelong Learning, Professional Growth and Skills Development, Character Development, and Community Building. St. Scholastica’s College likewise supports opportunities for all lay mission partners to design programs for their own personal growth. These programs are differentiated in form to address individual needs and differences, leading to maturity and success in fulfilling the responsibilities for the institution. The safety, functionality and adequacy of campus facilities are made certain by a comprehensive program for regular maintenance and upgrading of the school’s facilities. A Campus Development Plan for facilities improvement is crafted in coordination and consultation with the school community or with the specific unit or office concerned.
Direction 6: Work on being the School of Choice by Providing Quality, Accessible and Affordable Education
The target is to be the School of Choice by providing quality, accessible and affordable education, improving the course offerings and delivery, providing flexible learning modalities for different kinds of learners, and embracing an inclusive education. Improvement of the delivery of our services is vital.
A vibrant and energized Marketing Office should be established. It will conceptualize, articulate and present the programs for Public Relations and Communication, School Branding, and Image Setting among others. Each member of the school community is a branding agent. St. Scholastica’s College, in communicating its mission and identity to its public, should creatively utilize various media and strategies to inform them of the school’s programs, achievements and future directions.
Direction 7: Intensify Local and International Linkages, and our Scholarship Program
St. Scholastica’s College actively promotes organization and formation of its stakeholders in support of the school’s vision and mission. St. Scholastica’s College collaborates with associations of its teachers, parents, alumni and other significant stakeholders in promoting their particular goals. St. Scholastica’s College initiates linkages and networking projects for sustainability; faculty development and industry-academe collaborations; total human development; equipment and library resources-sharing; joint research activities; marketing and recruitment; international study exchange for faculty; linkages in business, culture and the arts, and linkages with Non-Government Organizations with specific advocacies like environment, women, peace, etc.
As a mission school, the Scholarship program should be strengthened to provide more competitive scholarship opportunities for students. This entails focusing on linkages with donors, the alumnae foundation, and other educational foundations. There is also a need to revive the active engagement and participation of the alumni and parents in school projects and activities.