In lieu of recent events, we could only give a deep sigh over the many things that we are all together facing as a country. And though I have something to say regarding each issue, I surely do not have all the time, all the strength, and all the knowledge in the world to prove what’s the best path our nation should be taking. I see no value in berating loudly, offering no solutions.
As someone handling a school, however, I have something to say about the recent hullabaloos concerning the Commission on Higher Education’s initiatives on the K to 12 Transition Program. The K to 12 Transition in the Philippines is a BIG movement – as it is not just merely adding two years into the current curriculum but it demands a major change in the education structure – from the school management to the faculty staff, to the whole student community, to everything in between. We are in the middle of a massive change, happening in the academe.
If you are aware, Chair Licuanan just resigned last Monday, and there are more than 4,000 scholars clamoring for stipend as promised by CHED according to signed contracts. Earlier the other day, I had the chance to talk with a team coming from the CHED central office and though the problem has ballooned almost beyond repair, I still appreciate that they have acknowledged their faults, committed to fix bottlenecks, and reached out to resolve scholars’ pleas – all of these, despite the exit of their Chair.
Again, this isn’t a post where I rant profusely but I seek to draw some lessons over CHED’s mishaps, which greatly parallels with some of the things I am currently dealing with at this stage of my life.
Three things to consider when you’re handling a project:
1. Complexity
They say we have reached the golden age of higher education institutions because of the K to 12 transition. The transition entails a massive upgrade across the education sector. Scholarships will be given by the thousands, research grants would increase in an unprecedented growth, various opportunities spring up – all because of this window of transition. And though this may sound new, the Philippines is actually one of the last few countries to adopt this. We have never been this road before so we can acknowledge how complex this thing could get.
Knowing the complexity of the project will cause you to better identify how much change you would have to reinforce. And in the midst of such complexity, there is a dire need for the art of simplifying.
CHED’s implementation of the K to 12 transition was undoubtedly complex, but in the national information dissemination, they utterly simplified things by making effective visuals that capture the whole process in infographics. That might be a minute detail but it makes a lot of difference most especially when done on a national scale. Can you summarize a 30-page program information in a one-page graphic without compromising content? They fared well in simplifying complex information.
Kwento mode: You see, every morning, breakfast’s in our family are also considered informal business meetings. And if you think our dad boss is soft on us, think again! haha! He fulfills two roles in our lives – as a father and as a boss. And I’m thankful that he doesn’t deprive us of corporate scoldings when we really need it.
My dad, glowing in his 60’s, can’t stand details. If something happens in the business, you must try to at least explain it in 6 words, or something as long as the allowed character count in Twitter.
Sira ang classroom. Need namin ipaayos. Pwede po?
May problema sa accreditation. Ano gagawin? Huhu.
Naiwan ko susi sa bahay. Sorry kaayo.
Those 6 words or so, can magically turn into an hour-long story telling if the unrestrained intellectual nagger in me would resurface – which shouldn’t. So much details and fuss. And I have noticed that this has been something that i have been working on even when I was working for a multinational company. All problems all have their nitty-gritty details, but your ability to think clearly, and simplify well can spell faster resolution and better communication with the people involved.
And take note, you can only really begin to simplify things if you have a thorough grasp of the matter’s complexity.
2. Capacity
Now that you know the complexity of the project, it’s now time to check your capacity.
Kaya mo ba?
Prior to the K to 12 transition, CHED had 200 scholars for graduate studies, then leaped to 4,000+ (according to the staff). Now, that is a huge leap. CHED had the money to finance the project, it had the process to reinforce its ideas, but the people didn’t keep up since there was not only a lack in manpower but also in the technical know-how. The project bypassed the capacity of the workers. The resources may be there, but if the people aren’t ready, so is the whole project.
And this very incident, ladies and gentlemen, had shown up many times in different moments of my life. There were times where I was pushed to handle something I thoroughly know I couldn’t handle yet – technically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually. I was a “yes” girl and could not muster the courage to say no. I couldn’t wait, and think it over. And though some have turned out to be great decisions because I endured and had grown, some, however, left more pain’s than gain’s.
I am aware that each person has the potential to make it big in life but we also need to have a healthy and honest estimation of ourselves. Undertaking great endeavors need capacity planning. You can’t just be promoted all of a sudden without intentionally increasing your capacity.
There is no absolute fix for all these cases, so I’m only prodding you to discern well as we all have different circumstances. Learn to ask yourself – do I have the capacity to do this? If yes, when should I do it? and what should I do? If not, what can I do to prepare myself for such? How can I increase my capacity to meet future expectations?
Demand change from yourself, graciously.
3. Collaboration
I wish not to delve into the details of the program, but in a gist, the transition demanded inclusive collaboration between CHED, Higher Education Institutions, and other stakeholders. Collaboration is inevitable in projects. To collaborate means to work jointly, to cooperate or willingly assist others.
Case in point: My mom is good with details and my dad’s a visionary – the other is near-sighted the other is far-sighted, and with polar opposite personalities, they blend well (pag good mood sila haha).
One fine day, I dropped by my dad’s office and he told me some of the changes he was implementing on the finances of the business. He cut the processes short and decided to man over the petty cash fund. He contrasted his ways with mom’s – who values the process. Papa wants it quick, mama wants it monitored even if it would cost her some precious time.
Knowing this, I was determined to consider their ways and blend their best practices – by respecting the process, but also knowing when to intervene for faster transaction and better delivery of services.
In the spirit of collaboration, every person’s say has a weight if it ultimately serves the purpose of the organization. You will be heard not because you wanted to merely air your opinions but because you genuinely think what you want to say can contribute to the overall welfare of the business. Collaboration should remind us that we are no way better than others, but that we are incessantly in need of one another. Two is better than one and three, even better!
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Our lives can look like plates that have been filled to the brim. Life’s projects are better handled if we take time to know the complexity of the matter, consider our capacity and value collaboration.
And of course, In the midst of the mess of CHED, I still look forward to what it has in store for the educational system of the country. Meanwhile, let’s also learn from their mishaps, and think well of the projects we’ve been privileged to be stewards of.
‘Til next time!
Jamie
Thinking Millennial 