What it takes to own and manage a school

Miraflor Aquino Torrente, owner and directress of Village School of Parkwoods (VSOP), Barangay Payatas, Quezon City, which offers pre-school to high school education, speaks from her rich experience when she answers the question:  “What does it take to run a school?”

1.  Quality education can only be delivered by quality teachers.  I hire teachers on the basis of competence.  In order to keep them from moving to “greener fields,” I pay them competitive salaries.  They also get free education for their children at VSOP.  In addition, they are sent to continuing education programs and encouraged and supported to pursue graduate studies.

2.  You must also have good facilities.  We have moved from a borrowed space in a multi-purpose hall to two buildings of our own.  We have lately put up a home economics area, a science laboratory and a computer center.  The computer center is equipped with Internet-wired computers and printers.

3.  A passion for teaching is important.  This was what motivated me to go into the field of private education.  It is the same passion that fuels me to do more for the community.

4.  You must have good rapport with students.  I know each student by name and make it a point to be acquainted with each parent.

5.  Speaking of parents, one of the biggest challenges a school faces has to do with them.  There are difficult parents — those who fail to appreciate the efforts exerted by the school to develop their children;  there are those who complain about expenses.  Some do not realize we have to pay teachers and pay them well.  How can we tell them we have to pay for bank loans, repairs, power, school supplies, etc. etc.!  All these costs have to be covered by tuition fees.

6.  Another challenge is the acceptance by the local community, since the bigger schools are generally preferred.

7.  There is of course the challenge of competition.  We have to show that VSOP provides education at par with the big schools.

8.  To cope with these challenges, self discipline is very important.  Live within your means.  Keep track of your collectibles.  Live simply.  Huwag gastahin ang perang hindi mo pa nahahawakan.  Remember that projected revenue is not yet money in the bag.

Likely as a result of Miraflor’s prudent management of resources, VSOP has grown manifold since it began in 1997..  From a preparatory school of 63 pupils to an integrated grade and high school of 365 students.  From faculty members of 6 to 26. From an initial investment of 40 thousand pesos to more than 5 million in assets in ten years.