Julie Joy Santos
ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the effectiveness of Project WISH (Wealth in a Shell): Salted Egg Processing as a school-based income-generating initiative to support the implementation of Project REPHRASES, the School Reading Program of Lalog Elementary School. Anchored on the principles of School-Based Management, the study addressed the financial constraints encountered in sustaining reading interventions, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. A descriptive-developmental research design with an embedded program evaluation approach was employed to document implementation processes and assess outcomes. The project involved Grade 6 pupils, parent volunteers, and school personnel in the production and marketing of salted eggs. Data were collected from production records, financial reports, and monitoring documents, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings revealed that the project produced approximately 35 trays of salted eggs across seven production cycles, generating a gross income of ₱12,600.00 and a net income of ₱7,830.00. The income generated supplemented the limited budget allocated for the reading program, thereby supporting the provision of instructional materials and literacy interventions for identified struggling readers. Beyond financial outcomes, the project enhanced learner engagement through experiential and contextualized learning, fostering competencies in entrepreneurship, agriculture, ICT, and home economics. It also promoted values such as responsibility and resourcefulness among participating pupils. However, challenges related to coordination, production standardization, and market sustainability were noted. The study highlights the potential of school-based income-generating projects as sustainable mechanisms for resource augmentation and instructional support in resource-constrained educational settings.
Keywords: School-based management, income-generating project, reading intervention, experiential learning, educational sustainability.
https://doi.org/10.57180/hiyj8909