Maguindanao schools get S&T digital library
THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in partnership with United Nations World Food Programme, deployed 15 Starbooks units in different public schools and local government units (LGUs) in Maguindanao. Short for Science & Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosks, Starbooks is a digital science and technology (S&T) library developed by DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute (STII) to equip different public schools with valuable learning resources on S&T.
The digital library units were turned over after the signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DOST-ARMM and the 15 recipients on 01 March 2018 at Cotabato Government Center in Cotobato City.
“A digital learning resource material such as Starbooks could improve the way our public schools nurture our students in Maguindanao,” said Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman in a statement.
“With tons of information provided by this library in a box, particularly in the fields of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, our students and teachers in the province will be equipped with additional knowledge on various scientific discoveries and innovative technological products,” he added.
The Starbooks deployment in Maguindanao is part of the MOA signed between DOST-STII and UN WFP last August 2017 in which UN WFP committed to provide 112 Starbooks-enabled computers to nine provinces in the country. These provinces include Benguet, Batangas, Laguna, Sorsogon, Misamis Oriental, Davao Oriental, Cagayan, Maguindanao, and Iloilo.
Recipient municipalities in Maguindanao were Kabuntulan Mother, Buldon, South Upi, and Northern Kabuntulan. Meanwhile, the 11 public schools with newlyinstalled Starbooks were Kabuntulan National High School, Gallego Edgcor National High School, Dinganen Buldon National High School, Karim National High School, South Upi National High School, Pilar Integrated Technical Vocational High School, Looy Integrated Technical Vocational High School, Pandan National High School, Lumao National High School, Gayonga National High School, and Datu Alamanza Dilangalen National High School.
Alan C. Taule, chief of DOST-STII’s Information Resources and Analysis Division, stressed that in deploying Starbooks, remote areas with no internet connection and limited learning materials have been always the top priority of DOST-STII.
As of 02 March 2017, Starbooks has been deployed to 2,260 sites nationwide.