ABOUT US

OBB is the adopt-a-school program of the Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC College of Education (BAGCED), De La Salle University-Manila. The program seeks to provide quality Lasallian education and values formation to the best high school students from Metro Manila public high schools.

It began as an initiative of a group of business leaders who wanted to help improve the quality of public education in the Philippines. To facilitate this initiative, a partnership was formed among De La Salle University Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC College of Education, the Big Brother Foundation, and the Department of Education. In June 2001, OBB was pilot tested in 3 public high schools in the City of Manila. Since 2003, the program has been running for three 5-year cycles, having integrated the valuable lessons learned from its partners and stakeholders.

OBB approximates Lasallian education by targeting five areas of focus in the OBB schools, namely: curriculum enhancement, teacher training and development, values formation and personal development, student selection and development, and learning resources enhancement. Thus, the program has the following goals:

provide enhancements to the Math, Science and English curriculums in order to strengthen students’ competence;
enhance instruction in Math, Science, and English through teacher training programs;
inculcate Lasallian and Christian values through regular values formation sessions;
develop students’ soft skills (i.e., self-awareness, leadership skills, interpersonal skills, career decision-making skills) and;
provide learning resources to students and teachers to aid instruction.

OBB BY THE NUMBERS

OBB PARTNER SCHOOLS

OBB PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT COMPONENTS

The Operation Big Brother operates in cycles wherein it adopts the top sections of Grades 8, 9, and 10 from its partner schools until they finish junior high school. Annually, to help preserve and enhance the program, it conducts parent and student orientations, teacher orientations, and facilitates conversations between partners. Through this, new members of the program are provided with necessary information and the program’s activities for the year are evaluated and refined for the next run.

Learning Resource Enhancement

Yearly, OBB provides its partner schools with necessary learning enhancements such as school supplies, basic learning equipment (i.e. complete computer set and multimedia projector), and since the pandemic, load cards for internet connection. OBB also funds rehabilitations of OBB classrooms, laboratories, and school libraries.

Student Selection and Development

OBB adopts the top sections of its partner schools, specifically from its Grade 8, Grade 9, and Grade 10 batches. From the beginning of the Grade 8 scholars’ participation in the program and until they reach Grade 10, they are monitored and encouraged to excel in their studies to maintain their high academic ranking. They are also provided with career talk seminars and entrance exam reviews in preparation for their SHS applications and admission.

Teacher Training and Development + Curriculum Enhancement

To provide the students with high-quality education and continuously enhance the curriculum of the subject assigned to them, OBB provides its teachers with avenues for continuing education and professional development. They are also given opportunities to receive mentorship from renowned individuals in the field of education.

Values Formation and Personal Development

The Values Formation component of the OBB program remains to be its stronghold. The weekly values formation sessions conducted in each school and level is a chance for students to connect with their faith, with oneself, and with one another. The sessions are often dubbed as their “break” from academic activities and the stress it comes with. Each batch of OBB students also undergo annual closing activities and a retreat at the end of their journey as beneficiaries of the program.

The Values Formation modules used in the sessions are carefully designed and developed by the Values Formation Facilitators to meet the needs of the students while integrating the Lasallian core values, personal effectiveness and development, and psychoeducation on mental health and well-being.