Fighting the global financial crisis through education, 60 public elementary schools in Mindanao received a boost in their science education after they received information and communications technology (ICT) packages from the Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) to improve the quality of basic education in the region.
Dr. Ester B. Ogena, Director of the DOST-SEI, said the ICT packages is just the start of a three-year project called Mindanao Opportunities for Vitalized Education and Upgrading of Science (MOVE UPS) that seeks to strengthen the capabilities of the 60 identified elementary feeder schools of the Philippine Science High School-Central Mindanao Campus (PSHS-CMC) in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte.
Ogena said MOVE UPS is SEI's tack to provide a favorable learning environment in Muslim dominated schools, unique in their culture, that will encourage and help students to understand, appreciate and value the importance of science.
"We want more of our students in Mindanao to qualify in the PSHS and we can do it by giving them the appropriate basic education that would prepare them in entering a science high school," she said.
Lanao del Sur gets the largest chunk of ICT packages with 21 public elementary schools each getting a laptop computer, multimedia projector, software packages and other peripherals.
Ten public elementary schools each from Lanao del Norte, Shariff Kabunsuan and Maguindanao and nine from Marawi City would also be getting the same package.
Ogena said the project includes teacher and principals management training; annual science camps; laboratory equipment support; development of aptitude tests; development of parents and principals handbook, and a manual of the project; and support for library and reference materials.
Under the project, teachers undergo a teacher training program that focuses on enhancing teacher capabilities and competencies in teaching science and mathematics subjects including English.
Principals would also be undergoing training on effective and efficient administration and supervision of feeder schools in the first year of implementation to be followed by an annual one-day conference for them.
Every summer, science exhibits, quiz shows, math trails, poster-making contests and presentation of researches and mathematical investigations would be conducted to entice the students to venture into science and mathematics.
An aptitude test for the students would be developed to identify potential pupils for the PSHS-CMC.
Ogena said the project intends to develop more relevant approaches and strategies for more effective teaching and learning, particularly in Science, Mathematics, and English subjects in the said Muslim dominated feeder schools.
"We want our students to improve their performance in Science and Mathematics education in Muslim dominated elementary schools," she added.
Ogena said the project was sparked by the low number of students being admitted in the PSHS-CMC despite its almost 10 year existence.
"We want to equip our elementary pupils with adequate educational experiences that will ensure greater chances and opportunities of being admitted to the PSHS-CMC," she said. (30)
