Education can never be an enterprise

Nestled in the heart of Novaliches is a school called SHAN (Sacred Heart Academy of Novaliches), a pioneer in private education, which is a testimony to the profound statement that "a school should not be a preparation for life; a school should be life."

This is absolutely true when the object of early education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives. This is the very essence that governs SHAN.

Founded in 1947 by Luisa F. Kierulf, little known SHAN, now starting its sixth decade, is a non-sectarian school for both girls and boys. It is the prime example of what an excellent education from nursery to high school is all about. SHAN’s graduates are living testimonies to the enviable performance of the school.

Throughout these years, SHAN has been producing graduates and professionals who are basically aware of the fact that the wealth of learning they have obtained from SHAN is richer, fuller, and greater than any elementary or high school in the Philippines. The costs are certainly lower than the so-called "elite" schools, and therefore not commensurate to the wealth of knowledge and the quality of values-nurturing the student obtains.

The school is now managed by Josephine "Jojo" Kierulf-Zabarte, the founder’s daughter, who has carried her mother’s legacy with honor and great competence. Upon visiting the school and interviewing some of the alumni, one gets the feeling that it is still a SHAN graduate’s home. I was privy to a nostalgic interaction between Zabarte and a SHAN graduate, already a successful professional who is displaying her love for the school and the immense value of the early education she derived from it. She had also been a teacher for many years at SHAN and missed those great moments with her students. One thing stood out, too — her high regard for Jojo Zabarte, school directress.

Kierulf-Zabarte has a bachelor’s degree in education from St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Those who know good-looking Jojo from the social world are not aware of the very precious and serious dimension she is immersed in. Her fulfilling work as directress of SHAN, responsible for the molding of very young minds from nursery through grade school and then high school, provides her with moments of joy. Not just any school, not an exclusive and expensive school, but a school where the fundamental statements are discipline, leadership and involvement.

SHAN students regularly move on to UP, UST, Ateneo, La Salle, etc., and graduate with honors. No wonder it’s very fulfilling or Jojo, who is married to a successful businessman and one of the nicest gentlemen around, Henry Zabarte.

Beyond everything, however, the fundamental principle of involvement inculcated in the minds and hearts of the young students has given life to the statement: "The idea of education is to unsettle the minds of the young and inflame their intellects."

Founded by Jojo’s mother 60 years ago, SHAN is a private school where the students do not come from the very wealthy echelons of society, and that’s the reason why their minds are extremely receptive and enkindled to get involved in the community around.

In academics, in science, in mathematics, in sports and various competitions, SHAN’s students and alumni have competed and excelled. Values formation is also a priority there.

With its number of students growing immensely, SHAN has indeed become the best argument that education can never be a business enterprise. It is, in the words of Jojo Zabarte, "a social commitment, soul-satisfying, and very fulfilling."

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