What is a family farm school?

The FFS system allows the community to develop an education for the youth that is relative to their needs. It is an education of formation, which addresses their concrete problems and realities. Ultimately a FFS enriches theory with practice and offers a holistic approach to rural development. Adopting the framework from France, the FFS as contextualized in the Philippines operate on the guiding principles of the Four Pillars……. 1. Alternancia 2. Integral Youth Formation 3. Responsible associations 4. Rural Development If one or two of these pillars are absent, one ceases to be a FFS.

Alternancia The major difference between a FFS and a standard school is that students from a FFS have alternating home periods and school periods, which allows learning without alienation from their environment. Through Alternancia, students and parents are made aware of pressing problems and seek possible solutions together. The youth are made part of the process. The principle of Alternancia is not a mere teaching methodology but more on the practical way of allowing the youth to continue working with their parents in their means of livelihood. Students in class Responsible Associations Participation of parents translates into the development of a responsible parents association concerned with the education of their children and the future of their community. A solid group is stronger in addressing the community’s needs and in espousing causes for their development than as an individual. Students at the school farm		Teacher Pong with a student during home period. Integral Formation Integral Formation seeks to equip the students with the human, social, moral, spiritual and professional aspects of their development. Both their minds and hearts are formed and they are provided with skills to become productive members of their community. Parents and community members during low cost mushroom production training. Rural Development Development interventions of a FFS at the level of the students and their families must radiate to the wider community in order to effect rural development. FFS aims to produce well-formed individuals that become agents of positive change in their community thereby raising the quality of life through efforts geared towards better economic policy, human formation, and civic consciousness.

What is a Family Farm School?