CICT hosts online writing seminar for ischools partners

The Commission on Information and Communications Technology held an online writing seminar last Nov. 14-16, 2007 at Hillside Resort Puerto Princesa, Palawan with representatives from partner State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) attending.

Anchored on the ischools project of the commission, the seminar is intended to train the partner SUCs in writing news, features, opinion and columns, post pictures and many others online relevant to the progress of the project.

Yvonne Chua, from UP Diliman, and Luz Rimban, from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, were the invited speakers and trainers for the whole duration of the program. They gave inputs on how best to utilize and maximize online technology in journalistic writings which will come in handy especially when the ischool project starts in full swing anytime soon.

As the highlight of the activity, the participants were asked to design their own institutional blogs where all the outputs of the three-day activity will be posted. It was also explained that the blogs of the partner institutions will be used as readily accessible means of keeping tabs on the progress of the projects across the archipelago.

The activity was organized by Prof. Nilo Banlawe of Palawan State University, and the ischools Project Manager in the same institution.

a thousand and one laughs

Teachers from Pulung Santol NHS-Annex I, Poblacion Porac, Pampanga were happy upon learning from this meeting by the TSU team that they are eligible to become recipient of the Ischool project of CICT.

On site inspection September report

a. Planned vs. actual

(name of original list of school, reason for change)

Province of TARLAC (3)

Tarlac NHS (Central Azucarera de Tarlac), Obrero, Central , Tarlac City

The Tarlac National High School and Central Azucarera de Tarlac are entirely two different schools as opposed to what they were initially referred to as being one and the same. The Central Azucarera de Tarlac High School lies at the heart of the Hacienda Industrial Park. This school, headed by Ma.Linda Cayabyab, is under the City School board. It has a student population of 1683 manned by 26 teachers. Based from ocular visit, they already have 10 computer units donated by DTI. However, from these computers, only 6 are still functional. The school has no internet connection although we can arrange for these connections anytime as the program begins.
Existing computer labs meets minimum criteria and they are willing to improve the laboratory according to given requirements. Power connections are there as well as lightings and circuit breaker.

Benigno Aquino National High School, San Nicolas, Concepcion

Benigno Aquino National High School is situated in densely populated and one of the major towns in Tarlac. The DEpEd secretary comes from this town so apparently, budget wise, they are not really wanting. With computer labs housing 40 units and work stations, it serve its strong student population of 5556. These computers are already hooked with an internet connections and are networked as well. The school is headed by its principal Mrs. Racquel Cayabyab.
With computers and connections all in place already, they meet far above the set minimum requirement for the project.

Sto. Domingo National High School, Dolores, Capas, Tarlac

Headed by Mr. Abelardo Corpuz as the principal, this school, now named as Capas High School, is one of the most populated public high schools in Tarlac. It has 4,774 students and 64 teachers with 1 computer laboratory housing 22 computers left working. The computers are not yet internet connected and are not yet networked when the visit was done. As of the present, they now have internet connection.
They however have suitable laboratory rooms where improvements are possible. They have suitable Ceilings and windows with good umber of tables and chairs. Lighting and electric connections are good plus telephone connections. Rooms are secured with locks, window grills and fire extinguishers.

Province of PAMPANGA (4)

Dolores NHS (Madapdap Resettlement), Madapdap, Magalang, Pampanga

Dolores National High School is situated in Madapdap Resettlement Area in Magalang Pampanga. Headed by its principal Gracita Regala, faculty members settle on only five computer units serving 793 students. They have one computer laboratory, manned by one PTC salaried administrator, who has no trainings or technical know-how on PC maintenance.
Pulung Santol NHS-Annex I, Poblacion Porac, Pampanga
It is only this year that this school finally received computer units that DTI donated. They have suitable laboratory room for ICT. Telephones are there, internet connection is readily available and recently, the Local School Board has donated computer table and chairs in anticipation of the Ischool project that CICT is putting up for them. Problem is, there hasn’t been any trainings in ICT that the school and its faculty has attended in so far. Lab however is well prepared for deployment anytime soon.

San Isidro National High School, San Isidro, Bacolor, Pampanga

Mrs. Virginia Odejar is the newly appointed Principal of this school. Heading a small group of 12 teachers and 568 students, they maintain one computer laboratory with 10 computers donated by DTI in 2005. Used for regular teaching, research and usual office activities, they also have system applications borne from these units. Although the laboratory has appropriate room specifications, it is wanting still in telephone connections and internet connections as well.

Talang High School, Talang, Candaba, Pampanga

This institution with 15 working computers donated by DTI made available for its 1054 number of students and 19 teachers does not have its computer laboratory yet. Temporarily housed in a room shared by Guidance and Library room, computers are used for research, instruction and regular office activities. There are no telephone lines yet hence internet connections isn’t available either. Should the room which it share with the Guidance and Library personnel become entirely dedicated for ICT, it should be prepared for the CICT program with room size enough to accommodate additional 21 more units.

Province of BULACAN(9)

San Rafael National Trade School, Caingin, San Rafael, Bulacan

This school boasts of its two separate campuses located on two very populated areas. They have two computer laboratories maintaining ten computers each all donated by DTI in 2001. With 14 units working ably, the laboratory is internet capable powered by Digitel. Although a total of 20 computers are relatively considerable for a student population of 1125 and 21 teachers, they are still in need of additional units since the flagship program of the school is on Information technology.

San Ildefonso High School, Poblacion, San Ildefonso, Bulacan

Lying at the heart of the Poblacion of San Ildefonso, it should not be surprising that with a student population of nearly 2000, all facilities like internet and telephone connections are intact. With s strength of 35 faculty members, they try to make do on just 14 computer units in one existing computer laboratory. This laboratory is all set for the project and can accommodate additional units with well maintained laboratory room in tow.

Pres. Diosdado Macapagal High School, Veterans Ville, Sta. Cruz, Angat, Bulacan

This is a new school established three years ago. But the potential is big as it has steadily growing student population. As of yet, aside from one unit of computer now located at the principal’s office, the school is zero in terms of ICT equipment. With telephone lines and internet connections in place already and one newly constructed two-storey building waiting for occupancy, they are a viable candidate for the project.

Carlos F. Gonzales High School, Magibao, San Rafael, Bulacan

Another one of those big schools, it has 3394 students and 51 teachers and ten IT teachers. It at present maintains thirty working computer sets used for instruction, research and have started in an ICT integration as one of their system applications. They have two computer laboratories, with acceptable specifications, with good electrical connections plus internet and telephone lines in place.

Calawitan National High School, Calawitan, San Ildefonso, Bulacan

This small school of 565 students and 12 teachers are left with just three computers, from the original ten, are left functioning. All three units housed at the principal’s office, they are without a room solely for IT. There are no telephones available since the last time that telephone connections were cut due to billing situation. The IT coordinator is without formal training on IT maintenance.

Balagtas Agricultural High School, Divine Grace Subd., Pulonggubat, Balagtas, Bulacan

Balagtas Agricultural High School is considered the IT Center of Bulacan. Manned by considerable number of faculty members handling ICT related subjects, it becomes the training center for IT in the Province. With a total of 29 computers, 20 of which are still functioning are donations from DTI and their PTCA. With all these units networked, linked to the internet, secured, all electrical facilities in place, and housed in one laboratory supervised by an IT Coordinator, it serves more than 2000 students and 37 teachers.

Angat High School (Binagbag NHS-Taboc NHS), Taboc, Angat, Bulacan

This school is literally remote as it is situated far out at the interior of a bustling farming community. With one laboratory housing 10 computer donated by DTI, these are networked though absence of systems applications is marked, and are not connected with an internet since request for telephone lines in the area is still pending. Based from what was observed during the preliminary visit, their computer laboratory, equipped with appropriate electrical wirings and secured iron paneled windows, can very well be improved and can accommodate additional units and support. The school has only 648 students and 13 teachers.

Binagbag Nationa High School, Binagbag, Angat, Bulacan

This is a relatively and fairly a small school with a student population of a little over 700 with a strength of 15 faculty members and one School Head. Although it has 1 computer laboratory with 15 computer units, it however has not been able to network these units and hooked in the internet. It however can accommodate additional more units and can very well work out to have these units installed with internet connections.

Fortunato F. Halili Nat'l Agri'l High School, Guyong, Sta. Maria Bulacan

Fortunato Halili National Agricultural School is an institution funded by its Local government. The Municipal government has promised them computer units on top of 10 existing units housed in one computer laboratory managed by an IT coordinator in their school. Catering to over 1500 students and 26 faculty members, these units are dedicated solely for research and instruction. Powered by DSL, they have internet connectivity already, and with security and electrical facilities laid out already, they are ready for improvements in terms of additional workstations, soft wares and technical support.

Cost of changing the CICT assigned schools
All schools met the general requirements of the program.

Issues and concerns
Needs formal training in ICT among faculty members
No permanent, plantilla holder librarian. English teachers are assigned instead to become librarians.

2. Community mobilization report

a. Issues and concerns
Some schools have certificates as recipient of the Ischool project endorsed by Congressman Marcoleta.
There was concern brought up on whether those who are willing but are already above 40 still eligible for the trainings
Query over who’s to pay for the Electric bills.
Should they need security guards for the lab?
PTA will impose additional fees for the maintenance?
What about schools with less then 20 faculty members?
b. Your recommendations
Should they be endorsed by the Principal, those above 40 are eligible.
They can find sponsor and the school must attend Sustainability Planning Workshop prior to the deployment of the hardware.
As long as the PTC and the COA permit.
They can coordinate with the Barangay officials to request for security personnel either stationed or on roving arrangement. Or the PTC can might just as well hire one.
The Principal can nominate/endorse top students or PTA officials to complete the necessary number of trainees of 20.

Executive summary

Inasmuch as data shows that all target recipient schools pass the mark to be eligible for the program, the general impression would be that the project is doable and practicable. But, emphasis on trainings, capability building in IT maintenance is primordial in the conduct and the success of the project. There is a marked effort already from many agencies, government and private, to make these school computer based, via donations on computer units, the provision of the CICT of another 21 units, although can be appreciated pretty much, doesn’t make it the be-all en-all of the project. Monitoring the sustainability of the project and capability of the school personnel becomes highly relevant and focal at this point. This time we just don’t give them fish, we are, in the same token, bringing them into the realm of actually helping them learn how to fish.

A rare encounter of the surreal

The rain wouldn’t let up. In seconds, the walkway towards this small booth was swarmed and all lined up by people, wet and tired, all agog to get their turn. And they sure didn't look any happy. Not even if you attempt to cheer them up with your witty jokes and funny antics. To me, I needed to gather my humor for a while and stay quiet for as long as I could lest I might have triggered the hell out of them. That, I think, would be really really ugly- would it?

And comes my turn. And suddenly I was excited. As I was busy pounding the buttons in the machine, I was caught up by the sudden bang of the door. A middle aged women, dressed in uniform all color synchronized, and no less wet like the rest of us, walked in. Looking like all in a hurry with all her baggage which told me she might have just come from the market, I politely gave way. Out of respect, of pity? I don’t know. And frankly I can’t really say that I cared. And so while there, with my arms crossed waiting for seemed like eternity, she suddenly looked at me straight in the eye. In that instance, I know she’s in some sort of a problem. And so, I needed to finish what I started, my being agood samaritan had to be extended a little longer and so I tried to help her. Her problem is very simple, she is afraid of the sound of the ATM machine. She can’t read whatever it is there in the little screen that we all pay attention to each time we get money and she just couldn't figure out how to start and finish each transaction.

Suddenly I felt like I was a messenger of God. That is a feeling you don’t really feel everyday, do you? So, here we have a professional degree holder. Woman of the noblest of profession- and she is in trouble. Icouldn't figure out why initially but the point is-she is.

In the days that follow, during the on site inspection of the Tarlac State University Team, which includes me, I met her again, all bright eyed, and I was quite sure then, with that look, that she remembered me alright-pretty much. Not that I am embarrassed. But the thing is, I never thought I could encounter that sort of experience. It’s very surreal.

As the conversation and the inspection went on, she finally popped the big question. What were we doing in their school which is too far away from where we met, where the only technologically appropriate transportation system possible to use to get us to their school is a peddy cab or, if willing, a long brisk walk, I blurted out with utter disdain, “We’ll train you to teach using the computer.”

Suddenly, I felt like I was struck by a freezing cold air. For God sake, she can’t even use the ATM machine.

It worries me really. I am not sure if that’s about the possibility of bumping into her again or the idea of putting her through that similar humiliating experience again.

This sends a clear mesage to us all. What we are doing here is not going to be easy. The challenge is there. The bar is set too high. After all, whoever said it going to be easy?

Teachers 40 ups appeal for age relaxation

Whoever said you can’t teach old teachers new tricks?

Teachers forty years and above appealed to the Commission on Information and Communication Technology, the lead agency in the Ischool project, to qualify them in the roster of trainees selected from among the sixteen Public High School across the Provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga and Tarlac.

This came up after the Project Manager from Tarlac State University, Mr. Randy Catacutan, who did the site inspection for the identified beneficiary school, informed them about the age ceiling set at 40 by ICT in enlisting trainees in said project.

They argued that they could very well participate in the project and that it is never too late to learn especially that this project will enable them to improve their teaching skills and make their lessons a lot more innovative and easy.

Catacutan already cited, in his September report, this concern to ICT for prompt action and resolution.