The College of Education (CEd) of Isabela State University Roxas Campus (ISUR), through its Training and Extension Services Unit, formalized a significant partnership with Matusalem Elementary School (MES) through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony on September 10, 2024. This collaboration marks an important step toward strengthening educational development and community engagement, aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Leading the ceremony was Ms. Nancy A. Atchuela, the project leader and extension coordinator, who highlighted the significance of this partnership in fostering opportunities for mutual growth and collaboration between both institutions. The partnership directly contributes to SDG 4, which aims to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education while promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. Through capacity-building efforts for teachers and the provision of resources for both students and educators, the partnership supports the achievement of this critical global goal. Furthermore, the initiative reflects SDG 17, demonstrating how collaborative efforts between institutions can address educational challenges and improve learning outcomes through shared expertise and resources. Representatives from both the CEd and MES were present to formalize the partnership.

Dr. Januard D. Dagdag, Director for Extension, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasizing its potential to elevate education and training programs. He underscored the importance of such partnerships in extending the College’s resources and expertise to benefit the wider community, particularly in improving elementary-level education. The principal of MES, Dr. Joanna Lee L. Silvestre, echoed Dr. Dagdag’s sentiments, expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to partner with the CEd. She emphasized how this collaboration would significantly enhance the school’s academic programs, particularly in tackling critical challenges in mathematics and reading, which are essential for student success. Additionally, two key coordinators from MES attended the event, reinforcing the school’s commitment to maximizing the benefits of the partnership. Ms. Dionicia D. Lardizabal, the School Mathematics Coordinator, discussed the need for innovative teaching methods in mathematics, which could be supported by the resources and training provided by the CEd Similarly, Ms. Annalyn S. Wana, the School Reading Coordinator, emphasized the importance of improving reading comprehension and literacy, areas the partnership aims to strengthen.

The partnership will initiate various programs, including technical assistance, teacher training, and student engagement activities such as tutorials. These initiatives are designed to benefit both the students and teachers at Matusalem Elementary School while also providing practical, real-world learning opportunities for CEd students through extension activities. The event concluded with strong messages of solidarity from both institutions, affirming their shared vision for academic excellence and community empowerment. The MOA signing marked the beginning of a promising collaboration that is expected to make a lasting impact on the local educational landscape.