GEN-ED: 10 Years of Giving Chance to Others

By Steffi Dawn Ilagan

CHANCE. It is like a grace, an unmerited favor. You have it even if you are not worthy to receive it. It is even equated with the words: possibility, providence, and opportunity. When one has this, he/she should accept changes and learn to fit in a world of reality. 

Looking back, the General Education (GenEd) Program was implemented in the year 2001 through the collaborative ideas and efforts of former Chancellor Marcelo P. Salazar and Prof. Nora Clar along with Dr. Emma Magracia who conceptualized the program proposal together with the Deans of the colleges of Arts and Social Sciences, Business Administration and Accountancy, Science and Mathematics, and Education as members.

GenEd's first coordinatorwas Prof. Melecita G. Baena of the Department of History followed by Dr. Angelina Santos of the Department of Filipino and Other Languages, and Prof. Rene Jose Padro of the Department of Political Science, the current coordinator. This program is a 2-year self-liquidating program and is designed for students who did not reach the cut-off score of the MSU System Scholarship and Admission Examinations (SASE) for the different regular courses offered by the Institute. At the same time, GenEd is also a form of community

Through the years, the GenEd Program has been very successful. It continues to serve its main objective which is giving chance to others and letting them to be on top of the ladder. In the midst of criticisms, GenEd students have remained stronger and bolder. “Hindi nangangahulugan na ang mga estudyante ng GenEd ay mahihina. Ang problema dito is hindi naiintindihan ng mga tao kung ano ang GenEd.They should be given the chance to redeem themselves,” says Dr.Magracia. The program is equippedwith highly intellectual teachers thus encouraging students to do well and get impressive grades. And because of the program's effective mechanism, the Institute continues to uphold Article XIV, Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution which states: “The state shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.”

Patient, determined, industrious are just some of the words used by teachers to describe the GenEd students. Just like other students, they strive hard to achieve their dreams. GenEd students can proudly say that the chances given to them are not wasted. They have proven that when one is really eager to succeed in life, great possibilities, opportunities, and chances come along the way. And when these good things come, one must grab every opportunity laid down. And as what Dr. Magracia said, “College work does not require that you are an intelligent person, what you need is normal thinking capacity and you got to have perseverance, patience and determination then you'll succeed.”

For years now, the General Education Program remains to be a “portal of chances.” It has served as an instrument of giving quality education for students, thus clinging to the “Tatak-IIT” spirit.