RAFI, GSL Ink Partnership Extension For Educational Training, Assistance

The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) and the Global School Leaders (GSL) have extended their partnership for another three years in response to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruptions it has caused to education systems worldwide.

The organizations aim to equip school leaders with relevant training and assistance in navigating the current educational landscape.

The partnership, which was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed on March 3, 2023, seeks to address the deepening learning crisis and increased learning poverty that the World Bank has reported as a result of school closures and disruptions during the pandemic.

Through their partnership, RAFI and GSL will continue to implement GSL’s “Upya” program, a Kiswahili term for renewal, which aims to enable school leaders to lead effectively through a crisis. The program consists of three modules that focus on equipping school heads and teachers with the necessary knowledge and skills to safely reopen schools, utilize learning technologies, and develop an emergency teaching-learning plan.

“We are very excited about this partnership. As a global organization, we can have a much larger footprint as we operate in this partnership. Everything that we do, we do this in the service of our children,” Azad Oommen, CEO of Global School Leaders, said.

RAFI and GSL will also work together to conduct joint research on the impact of school leadership and the effectiveness of school leader training.

RAFI’s Education Development Unit and Center for Leaders launched the Upya program among school leaders and teachers in Cebu. The organizations plan to build on the program’s impact and implement a school leader training program that will help improve student learning in the region.

“We feel that this is a meaningful timing for everyone, and working with a lot of partners, we see the impact that we want to bring to the community, which can only happen with these meaningful partnerships,” said Riella Mae Christa Guioguio, Chief Operating Officer of RAFI.

The partnership between RAFI and GSL demonstrates the power of collaboration in addressing the challenges faced by the education sector. By providing school leaders with the necessary support and training, they can effectively lead their schools, promote student success, and positively impact the lives of more learners. (GFB)