AP brings digital learning to host community school
ABOITIZPOWER subsidiary Therma South, Inc. (TSI) donated Information Communication Technology (ICT) kits to Binugao Central Elementary School (BCES) last November 22, 2017. The turnover ceremony was attended by representatives from BCES, TSI, the Department of Education, and the Barangay Council of Binugao.
“The teachers of BCES are now e-teachers. I am expecting an increase of performance and a decrease in absenteeism and dropout rate. Students will be eager to come into the classroom because of these ICT kits,” said Jonas Piore, Department of Education Senior Education Program Supervisor.
The ICT kit included one desktop computer unit, one projector, and one projector screen. All 24 classrooms of BCES received one kit each.
The ICT integration began in May 2017 when TSI partnered with the University of Mindanao to conduct basic Microsoft Office skills training with 24 BCES homeroom teachers.
“This donation has made teaching easier. Children are more attentive and behaved. BCES is one of the first public schools to acclimate to ICT integration,” said Jayreen Pabi, former Principal III of BCES.
“Mas naganahan ang mga estudyante musulod sa klase. Dili gusto mag-absent. Halos dili na gani mugawas pag recess kay gusto mutanaw ug videos (The students are more interested in going to class. They don’t want to be absent. Even during recess, they hardly go out because they want to stay inside to watch videos),” said Adela Gajeras, a mother of two students in BCES.
“Dako kaayo ang inyong natabang diri kay dako kaayo ang improvement sa among school tungod sa mga gamit na inyong gipanghatag para gamiton namo sa among pagskwela (Your help has gone a long way with the improvement of our school because of this donation that we’ll use in our learning),” said Grade 5 student Maria Althea Abis as she observed the changes in her school snce it began its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration.
TSI hopes that with this ICT turnover, the young, and usually impoverished, students of its community will be given a chance for a better future through modernizing teaching techniques and encouraging them to stay in school.
“Public schools have always been close to my heart because I am a product of a public school myself. I wouldn’t be a plant manager if it weren’t for my public school teachers. We need to be updated because this is a new age. These students are our future,” said TSI Vice President and Plant Manager Valentin S. Saludes III. PR