Cat: an Epitome for The Betterment of All

Apart from academic and co-curricular activities, another thing that a school must have and conduct for the students is the Citizenship Advancement Training or popularly known as CAT. CAT is not just an activity to be done by the students but it is a requirement for the betterment of the students’ acts and behaviors in every occurrence and situations not just inside the school campus but also wherever place they will go. Infact, CAT is defined as a training program for both public and private school that aims to enhance the students’ social responsibility and commitment to the development of their communities. It also develops their ability to uphold law and order as they assume active participation in community activities and in assisting the members of the community especially in times of emergency. By that, we can really say that CAT has a lot of importance and advantages that can bestow and provide to the students especially for the Grade X students whom we believed to be the leaders in school.

Discipline, yes it is the primary thing that CAT teaches to the students, most especially self-discipline. When one has self-discipline, it means that he/she has also discipline in everything. Being a well - disciplined individual it also signifies being responsible not only in one’s action but also to his/her words. One of the best examples of this is when it comes to time. In school, time is one of the most essential things that everyone needs to consider for it reflects to the saying “Time is Gold. ” Now, if you are a member of CAT, whether you like it or not, you always need to be on time or ahead of time in order for you to avoid punishment. As a result of this, students will learn how to manage their time and know the essence of punctuality. Students will also learn the importance of respect not just for their teachers or elders but also for their fellow students even those who are younger than them. CAT believes in saying “Respect begets respect. ” CAT trains the students to move as one, to help as one and to work as one. Another advantage is unity. CAT stands with the saying ”There is more power in unity than division. ” CAT also awakens the act of leadership inside the students by simply educating them and giving them experiences about the qualities that a leader must possess. Aside from that, CAT helps the students to build and cultivate healthy relationship to people, this is to maintain peace and to elude unpleasant things such as troubles and disarrays. But most of all, CAT pushes the students to become more active and vivid in doing community services and in joining programs where their presence is needed. CAT lets the students to participate and experience things that can bestow wisdom and proficiency that they can use someday.

CAT is not just an activity, it provides a lot of benefits just for the sake of the school and students but also for the sake of others as well. So that it must be executed as favor to the DepEd Order No. 50 s. 2005 which states that “In order to ensure the effective implementation of the Citizenship Advancement Training (CAT) in both public and private secondary schools, the Regional and Division Offices are strongly advised to monitor its implementation and ensure that the guidelines are strictly complied with. ” For it is conspicuous that students who have undergone CAT became more well-disciplined and much aware of their duties and responsibilities than they have before. By that, therefore CAT should be implemented and should be practiced by the students for the amelioration of all.