The Basic Education Program of USI envisions an integrated systematic effort of spiritual, social, emotional and academic formation in achieving and maintaining a level of student development that is a total and at the same time functional and relevant. It is an innovation geared primarily towards providing a systems approach to education.

The Basic Education Program is characterized by an integrated and coordinated curriculum from Kinder to Grade 10 permeated by its Vision-Mission with Christian Living Program as the Core and the Community Extension Services as its direct laboratory experience with the poor.

The Christian Living Program of the DC Schools is centered on the mystery of Christ as a unified whole. Its is ever mindful of this basic mystery while it concentrates on its various themes and courses. He is the beginning and the end of the Christian Living Program. He is the heart of the Christian message. It is Jesus who leads women and men to the Father through the Spirit. Thus, the DC Christian Living Program proclaims the Gospel of the Risen Lord, which alone gives meaning to life in order both to arouse faith and to make the faith of the members of the school community living, conscious and active.

The Christian Living Program has three main areas: instruction, formation and initiation.

INSTRUCTION: Since Divine Revelation is borne in events and truths, Religious Education has the task of instruction and teaching the students the objective truths our Christian faith. It provides holistic and integral proclamation of the Good News.

FORMATION: The second aspect of the Christian Living Program reinforces and deepens the learner's understanding and appreciation of the Good News that was initially proclaimed through instruction. The provision of formation activities, e.g. prayer groups, Basic Ecclesial Communities, the Liturgical and other Sacramental Celebration; retreats and recollection, facilitate the learner's internalization of the gospel values and eventually, living out. Formation provides the relational/affective experiences that would lead the learners toward greater commitment in the effective living out of the Good News.

INITIATION: The third aspect of the Christian Living Program, provides for the praxis with which the learners' convictions find expression in real life. Initiation establishes connection between faith and life. This initiation is specially directed towards the learner's solidarity with the poor and commitment to the transformation of structures in society that are oppressive to the poor. Initiation or pastoral involvement takes the forms of Exposure Emmersion, Social Issue Advocacy (or involvement in current social issues affecting the lives of the poor) and community Parish Involvement.

THE COMMUNITY EXTENSION SERVICES VISION

A relevant and sustainable extension services in partnership with the people in the particular adopted communities/targeted sectoral groups toward improved quality of life and people empowerment.

MISSION

To provide access to resources and opportunities to empower the community/sectoral partners, instilling a deep sense of nationalism and respecting cultural diversity.

GOAL

Transformation of the clientele system into a dynamic, responsible and self-reliant Christian communities.

OBJECTIVES

1. To identify for exposure-immersion for student, faculty, personnel, NTS, administrators and student's practicum.
2. To create a system for sustained reflection on the area of action where working partnership between the targeted communities and the school community is established.
3. To allow the people in the community to participate in the entire problem-solving process; from the identification of their problems/needs to planning, implementation and evaluation.
4. To provide structured community activities for the sustainability of the people's efforts in creating themselves a "little church" in their locality.
5. To tap the external and integral resources of women in the works of preserving the integrity of creation.
6. To train and retrain community volunteer workers and acquire skills, attitudes and experiences in community health care.

CES FOCUS

1. SOCIAL CONSCIENTIZATION PROGRAM

• Give opportunity for the students, faculty, personnel and administrators to be physically in contact with the poor on the realities of their lives taking into account their problems, experiences and struggles. The program consists of three phases of reflection: TO SEE, TO JUDGE AND TO ACT.2.COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (CD)/BEC FORMATION
• CD aims at motivating the poor to improve their lives. It espouses self-help projects through cooperative efforts and people's participation. A way of mobilizing people to change.
• BEC goal is the integration of faith and life, as well as of evangelization and development. It utilizes the ARFA method (Action-Reflection in Faith-Action)
  Continuing education aims to develop neo-literates to become functioning members of the community.