HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF NEW ERA UNIVERSITY PRE AND GRADESCHOOL DEPARTMENT


Education Theory is essential. It furnished us with a treasure of the world's best thoughts about education over a period of years. The brief history of the New Era University Pre and Elementary Department shows clearly all educational practices and theories that reflect social conditions within which each period or year level appeared. New theories and practices will continue to appear for the school reflects the needs and ideals of the socially it serves.

In 1984, the NEU Elementary Department started to be in operation at the EVCO building. It started its operation with the curriculum course of Pre-school (Nursery, Kindergarten, and Preparatory), Grades I, II, III, and IV, occupying the northern part of the EVCO building six (6) rooms were primarily meant for them including the office of the Principal. The pioneer teachers can be said to have struggled for the successful operation of the curriculum courses to mention the pioneer teachers Mrs. Cedina Villamarzo, Ms. Magno, Mrs. Maribel Amay, Mrs. Alcy Tamundong, Ms. Luzviminda Bernardo and Dr. Lydia L. Libunao as teacher coordinator. The number of enrollees was 217 and the breakdown is herewith shown:

Level
Number of Enrollees
Nursery
11
Kindergarten
20
Preparatory
49
Grade I
38
Grade II
41
Grade III
31
Grade IV
27
Total
217


After a short period of 6 months, November 1984 to be exact, the department was moved to Tagumpay St. where the successful operation was continued.

In the School Year 1985-1986, the enrollment increased and the growth demanded for additional teachers so came in the following teachers: Mrs. Asuncion Borromeo, Ms. Hilaria Quinto, Ms. Sally Red, Ms. Mila Caerlan, Ms. Lucia Narag, Ms. Ofelia Sarmiento and Mr. Antonio Nogollos. The movement had main lines of growth: the intellectual, aesthetic, spiritual, social and scientific. The curriculum course were Pre school and Grades I to VI. Booming accomplishments were achieved, the Pre-school was recognized by the DECS, the department had its first graduation for the Grade VI on April 8, 1986. From 6 teachers it was increased to seven making a total of 13. Enrollment also increased from 217 to 290. The breakdown is as follows:


Level
Number of Enrollees
Nursery
17
Kindergarten
25
Preparatory
35
Grade I
56
Grade II
39
Grade III
40
Grade IV
32
Grade V
24
Grade VI
22
Total
290


In the school year 1986-87, the department was moved to the University site, New Era College, a place where there is greater advancement in the intellectual life on an individual. It was a general reawakening brought about by the following factors additional teachers, to mention with Ms. Editha Zamora, Ms. Belinda Dela Cruz, Ms. Bella Dizon, and Ms. Corazon Liwayway, the improved methods/ strategies of teachers, the increased of enrollment from 290 to 460.

Through God's guidance and utmost dedication, the elementary teachers worked together towards the progressive development of the department that in the year 1989 to 1990 the school has increased from 967 to 1,236 with an increase of 269.

Indeed discipline, leadership, sacrifice, humility, and devotion are the key traits of the school department staff, teachers, and administrators to the undergoing success the department is achieving.

From 1991 to 1994, the enrollment soars to more than three thousand. There was a need for the department to hire more teachers. In the advent of the mushrooming of enrollment, the number of teachers also increased to 89. Additional rooms were constructed to accommodate all enrollees.

The deficiencies in degree and academic preparation of the newly hired teachers were compensated and completed with a series of faculty development programs. A number earned units in the masteral and doctoral programs for professional growth.

There were eight of the Elementary teachers who finished masteral degree. Four of the eight teachers who finished their M.A.E.D. pursued their Ed.D. course (Elvira Alonzo, Frances Diamante, Luzvim Matulac, Corazon Liwayway).

The members of the faculty endeavor to implement the purposes, objectives of the institution towards excellent.

In the year 1995,Dr. Lucia Narag was promoted Officer-In-Charge of Graduate Studies. The former principal of New Era Public School and assistant chief registrar of New Era University in the person of Mrs. Leonisa Medrano was appointed Principal of Pre & Grade School Department.

As the years passed, NEU remains successful. NEU is continually going and growing. Because of the remarkable growth in the enrollment, the number of teachers was increased by 4, a total of 15 (12 teachers resigned). Several accomplishments were achieved in phases of curriculum, teachers/ staff development, student development, physical facilities and socio-economic development.

In the School Year 1987 significant changes and accomplishments were remarkable to note the enrollment was increased from 460 to 665. The booming increased lead to the hiring of the following teachers. Mrs. Luzvim Matulac, Ms. Normita Cruz, Ms. Leticia Reyes, Mrs. Francisca Diamante, Ms. Nancy Arceo, Ms. Arlene Basa, Ms. Mirriam Mondragon, Ms. Estefania Apdan, and Mr. Reuben dela Cruz. From the number of 15 teachers, it increased by 9, a total of 24 in this school year radiated the awareness of education as a tool of living.

Cohesiveness and togetherness were instilled early among the elementary department teachers that helped the school populace to blossom from 665 to 967 in 1989 with the breakdown of male 496 and 471 female. Discipline and orderliness inside the premises, made New Era University a great school.

On June 30, 1995, the College was granted university status by the commission on Higher Education. The School was officially named New Era University.

Inspired by the attainment of the university and motivated by the challenge of excellence in education, New Era University submitted itself to voluntary accreditation. For having satisfactory met the standards and requirements, the Association of Christian Schools and Colleges Accrediting Agency awarded the certificate for Level I to Elementary Department in 1998.

The peacefulness, orderliness, brotherly love, and reverence for the words of God that govern the day to day order of things in the school inspire the development and the maximization of the student's potentials in different fields.

The Elementary Department has garnered laurels in creative and journalistic writing competitions, in quiz bees and even in sports.

Side by side with its academic functions, NEU also fulfills its socio-civic responsibility. Towards the larger community that lies beyond its walls. The students, faculty and staff members, and administrators all do their share in conducting community extension service. A very impressive project is the Balik-Aral Program for out-of-school youth conducted by NEU in close coordination with the Department of Education Culture and Sports (DECS) and the Iglesia Ni Cristo social Services Department. This program brings classes for the out-of-school youth right in their own vicinity using the local facilities of the Church, the expertise of NEU-trained teachers and the teaching learning modules from the DECS Program for out-of-school youth conducted by NEU in close coordination with the Department of Education Culture and Sports (DECS) and the Iglesia Ni Cristo Social Services Department. This program brings classes for the out-of-school youth right in their own vicinity using the local facilities of the Church, the expertise of NEU-trained teachers and the teaching learning modules from the DECS.