Quezon National Agricultural School - Successful Student

CORE BUSINESS

In order to be responsive to the needs of its stakeholders, the institution shall pursue as described in the acronym QNAS:

Q – Quality skills/service oriented training programs shall be developed based on the identified provincial/regional skills priorities with special reference to agri-fishery sector.

N – Networking and partnership with industry shall be intensified to promote active participation in dual training program and other collaborative endeavors.

A – Appropriate advocacy and promotion strategies shall be implemented. Social marketing techniques shall be pursued to create high level of awareness among stakeholders.

SS – Sustainability and profitability. Establishment and expansion of various agri-based income generating enterprises shall be vigorously undertaken to provide worthwhile and real-world agri-business experiences. HISTORY

Founded in 1960 as a vocational high school, the first principal spearheaded the construction of makeshift huts made of local materials that were utilized as classrooms of the school located then at the Forest Nursery along the Zigzag road in Pagbilao, Quezon (now Camp Trining Environment Center). It started as an Agricultural School for Boys which initially accommodated 72 students until it opened doors to Homemaking Curriculum for girls in 1963.

In 1964-1973, the second principal initiated the upgrading of teaching competencies of trainers. It was also during his term that QNAS was transferred to its present location after acquiring 31 hectares of land through expropriation proceedings.

The third principal led this school from 1974-1999. It was the start of offering post secondary courses such as Associate in Agricultural Technology (AAT); Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) major in Horticulture, Animal Science and Agronomy; and in 1981, Bachelor of Science in Homemaking Technology (BSHT). In 1987, all its degree programs were closed by DECS because the school was not ready to continuously offer 4-year degree courses.

Major development at Quezon National Agricultural School such as the establishment of SIE (Student Instructional Enterprise), IGE (Income Generating Enterprise) started in 1994 thru the AGRITECH program. These SIEs were composed of projects in Animal Raising, Crop Production and Processing of Agricultural Commodities. The repair and refurbishment of existing facilities were likewise coupled by the integration of Agribusiness Entrepreneurship in the curriculum.

Being funded by the Australian Aid for International Development (AUSAID), 1994-1998) and chosen by the Educational Development Projects Implementing Task Force (EDPITAF) as one of the 12 schools throughout the country classified as Provincial Technical Institutes of Agriculture (PTIA) under AGRITECH, Quezon National Agricultural School was able to repair some of its physical structures and systems for instruction. These included four instructional buildings, micro-credit financing for students and initial development of laboratory facilities both in Animal Production and Processing Technologies took place.

In early 1998, QNAS was transferred to TESDA from DECS per implementing guidelines of the trifocalization of educational system under General Appropriations Act of 1997. This was in response to the TESDA-DECS Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 series of 1997 which states the mandate where separation of secondary department and school’s college department has to take place.

In May 1999, a new Vocational School Administrator assumed office. The development focused on strengthening linkages with different NGOs, Pos, NGAs and continuing trainings under institution’s Community Outreach Center (COC). Reengineering of the campus and physical development started to peak in 2001. The Food Preparation and Service Technology – a 3-year course was offered due to the demand for skilled workers in the Hospitality Industry.

In 2002, several programs have been launched in QNAS and were supported by the different government agencies and NGOs like DOST for its micro financing, DAR for scholarship program, DA for its Bio-N Fertilizer production, Rotagrilife for its micro propagation technologies and Nestle Philippines for its coffee technology. QNAS became one of the Research Centers for Agriculture chosen b the office of the Philippine Council for Agri0culture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). In the same year, staff development was seriously attended and from thereon it remains one of the school’s priority and continuing strategies.

The school became recipient of GTZ-EDET program of the Republic of Germany in 2003. The program provided additional fund for facilities improvement and Personnel’s Capability Building for its distinctive area of Competence (DAC) (Animal Production NC II – a competency based curriculum). As a consequence, various trainings for staff have transpired to prepare the school’s human resource for a greater task ahead.

The Food Processing Technology (esp. Meat processing) served as the support to the Distinctive Area of Competence (DAC), thus; development of Food Processing Plant and 11 million pesos worth of equipment was budgeted for QNAS from GTZ-EDET, project of TESDA.

In 2004, another Competency Based Curriculum was implemented, the Hotel and Restaurant Service Provider, (Kitchen Service Provider, Food and Beverage Service Attendant, and General Service Provider). The course is of high demand and promising because the number of enrollees increased by 18% in 2004 alone. The increase in enrolment was significant in the history of QNAS, a connotation that offering non-agricultural courses is a great help to the needs of human resources training in Quezon.

In less than a decade, the school has established an institution conducive to instruction through its different amenities such as tissue culture laboratory, soils laboratory, integrated pest management laboratory, food laboratory, food processing laboratory, open bar, mini resort, canteen, guest houses, dormitories, well-furnished and air-conditioned library, state of the art food preparation/kitchen laboratory and housekeeping facilities.

2007 marked another milestone in the history of QNAS as it further reached out in the province through its partnership with Quezonians 1923, a Non-Government Organization. With an agreement aimed to collaborate in bringing community skills and manpower development programs of the government to the people of Quezon Province, the Quezonians 1923 Livelihood & Learning Center Inc. (QLLCI) located in Barangay Concepcion 1, Sariaya, Quezon, became part of the QNAS system thereby expanding its scope of clientele as well as the number of competency based programs it offers.

After the long years of commitment to the development of the institution, individual components of institutional building were clearly and vividly expressed by the many achievements the present QNAS has been striving for. The institution’s improvement on facilities, curriculum development from the old secondary to the Competency-based program of Technology Education, relevant activities for student development, research and extension and other related works in the community are some of the important facets of development under the stewardship of TESDA. Tie-up programs with other national and local government and non-government agencies and entities have been accomplished in so short a time. Quezon National Agricultural School, now on its forty eighth year of unsurpassed services to the people of Quezon, has proven time and again its goal of making itself an agent in changing lives.