In 2000, Bulacan identified the following problems in local education: inadequate teaching competencies, lack of books and workbooks, low parent involvement in child learning process, ineffective monitoring of performances of pupils and teachers, and poor incentives and rewards for teachers. Ratings of Bulacan pupils in the 2000 national achievement tests were 39.40% in Math (as against the national 50%) and 40.23% in English (as against the national 52%).

To address the problem, the provincial LGU implemented the Project JOSIE. The program had trained 4,141 teachers in math and reading proficiency, trained 157 newly hired teachers and 526 school managers, conducted orientations on home-school collaboration for 247,825 parents, and trained 332 youth volunteers.

It had developed and distributed over 555,000 workbooks for Grades I-IV pupils, 9,600 manuals for teachers, and 248,000 manuals for parents.

The program had given awards to 21 outstanding teachers, and incentives to 4,859 Grades I-III teachers, 496 school administrators, and 30 district supervisors.

There have been improvements in the performance of pupils, with proficiency level of 72.81% in the SY 2004-05 comprehensive English learning test for Region III. Bulacan has the lowest incidence of non-readers in English–1 for every 100 non-readers in the region. English proficiency of teachers also improved, with 64.48% during SY 2004-05 regional English assessment test. It is second to San Fernando City’s 69.99%.

Workbooks and manuals have reduced the clerical load of teachers. Parents’ participation in teaching-learning has been accepted in 496 schools. More parents are giving homework supervision to their children, attending school activities, and assuming leadership roles. There is high morale and motivation among teachers, administrators and parents due to community recognition of their roles.

This program is recognized as a Trailblazing Program, a finalist for the 2004 Galing Pook Awards.