When I was invited to become a PEAC Monitor, I embraced the opportunity with dedication, focus and a sense of purpose, and I knew that the work would shape me both professionally and personally. I prepared for this new role by immersing myself in the training, and diligently studying the program guidelines and the monitoring protocols and tools that would help me serve with confidence and integrity.
Being part of a monitoring team, I worked alongside other school officials from different backgrounds and our discussions were enriched by diverse perspectives. In the spirit of collaboration, we engaged in insightful conversations and healthy debates that always led to solutions that served the program objectives and the private schools as a whole.
When monitoring was conducted face-to-face and when visits were unannounced, it generated a range of reactions from the cooperative school administrators who provided all the necessary documents to those with administrators who were not present during the visit or did not allow the monitoring team to enter the school premises. Some visits would require extended hours of document reviews to account for the school’s program beneficiaries.
When schools shifted to remote learning during the pandemic, the PEAC similarly made its adjustments with a new protocol that tapped Monitoring Host Institutions (MHI), where schools bring their documents for review, and introduced the Program Monitoring System, which we had to learn, use, and then provide feedback, especially for the improvement of the system. Our experience with the schools was varied. Some schools arrived exceptionally well-prepared with complete and organized documents while some required additional assistance to facilitate the monitoring process.
Monitoring is not always easy, but it is profoundly rewarding. The lessons I learned have deepened my commitment to education and strengthened my belief in the positive and lasting impact we educators create together. I am grateful for the experiences and challenges that shaped my journey as a PEAC Monitor and I am honored to be part of PEAC’s mission to support the private schools.