BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI INTEGRATED SCHOOL
St. Alphonsus Liguori Integrated School was established in 1991 to serve the fast growing population of Molino, Bacoor, Cavite. It was founded by six teachers who had spent long years of service in an exclusive girl's school in Manila. These teachers who were active in education advocacy through NGO work, decided to set up a model of their ideal school in Molino. Four supporters joined and provided technical and financial assistance. Faculty members and staff from the same exclusive girl's school joined the growing school later.
The founders initially offered preschool education in a rented two-room house. Two of them, assisted by two teachers and a staff member, managed the school, which started with 55 pre-schoolers. On its second year, Grades I- 4 courses were opened as a résponse to the clamor of parents who initiated a signature campaign to appeal to school management and DepEd officials for additional grade levels.
The next years were difficult for the new school with very meager resources but the faculty and staff faced the challenge creatively and dedicatedly. Fees were maintained at a reasonable level to continue giving access to students who deserve quality education at low cost.
In 1996, DepEd granted the school a Certificate of Recognition having passed all the criteria and requirements for an Elementary Course. On its 10th Foundation Year, the Secondary Course was opened to finally complete the school's Basic Education Program. On its 15th year, SALIS, having passed the quality standards set by the Fund for Assistance to Private Education (FAPE) won financial subsidy for its High School students starting on SY 2005-06 under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Program.
Significant reforms were introduced in the Philippine Education System with the passing of Republic Act 10533 known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013. Briefly, it mandated the inclusion of one year of Kindergarten to the formal system and added 2 years Senior High School to Secondary Education. It also made for reaching changes in the design and details of the Basic Education Curriculum.
Having passed the requirements of the Department of Education, SALIS was given permission to offer Senior High School beginning SY 2016-17. The ESC subsidy continues to be enjoyed by the Grades 11-12 students.
At the threshold of the 21th Century, the school moves on conscious of the profound challenges of the new era. A paradigm shift has to be made in its service to keep up with the advances in technology, information explosion and globalization. A very important issue. which the school wants to address, is the assertion of the Filipino identity and national sovereignty as the Philippines co-exist with the rich and industrialized countries in the free market of a borderless world economy. Given these realities, what kind of education shall the school give its students to be globally competitive? Indeed, the problems of the Philippines as a developing nation remain the same, but the playing field is different.
