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Soaring high with WINGS, having fun with E-skwela
Date:
March 16, 2010
First, the city’s public school students then the out-of-school youths and adults in the communities.
In a bid to connect all barangays to the rest of the world and in order to provide his citymates’ access to learning opportunities through non-formal, community based e-learning program, Mayor Hernani A. Braganza yesterday launched E-Skwela Project, a flagship initiative of the Commission on Information and Communication (CICT).
Mayor Braganza earlier inked two Memorandum of Agreements (MOA), first on the Operationalization of Wireless Internet-based Governance System (WINGS) with DepEd Alaminos and the second one is on the implementation of e-Skwela program, a word play on the Filipino equivalent of school, with CICT, DepEd Alaminos and the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS).
Present during the project launch and MOA signing were Dr. Oscar C. Tadeo, OIC Asst, City Schools Division Superintendent, CITC Commissioner Consuelo Perez, Ms. Emma David Gregoria, OIC Asst. Chief Literacy Division, BALS Central Office, Ms. Maria Mellizza Tan, E-Skwela Project Manager, Ms. Luzviminda de Guzman, Education Supervisor for ALS Region 1, Mr. Avelino A. Mejia, Jr. e-Skwela Project Officer, Dr. Renato Viray, Technical Consultant on Higher Education for Learning, school principals, department heads and barangay captains.
Going wireless
The WINGS project of the city government will provide internet connectivity in the whole city using the wireless broadband technology.
The project will connect all the 43 public elementary and high schools in the city in support to the Bright Child Program of the Braganza administration.
So far, there are seven high schools and nine elementary schools that were already hooked to the internet.
It is expected that the remaining 32 elementary schools will get wired by the end of this year or mid 2011 as the city has set aside additional funds for the completion of all the internet facilities.
Engr. Roel Anoñuevo, city planning and development officer, said the project is a critical support to the implementation of the various programs of the city especially in areas of public education, tourism, public order and safety, human resource development and good governance.
Anoñuevo noted that with WINGS discussion on various issues and concerns affecting the city can now be enhanced.
“We can now easily improve the quality of education, delivery of basic services and enhance the level of governance of the city using this project,” he added.
WINGS Project will soon connect all public schools, barangay halls, government offices and other institutions to the city government.
Together with the various information systems that were already developed in house by the city thru its One System, Government, data generation and sharing of information on real time can now be facilitated since.
Teaching OSYs and adults
The establishment of the internet connectivity in the first 16 school sites made it possible for city to realize another worthy program for the Alaminians-the E-Skwela project of the CITC.
E-skwela, which aims to help reduce the nation’s digital divide and is said to respond directly to a national development priority, could provide the city’s out-of-school youth and local residents’ access to learning opportunities through a non-formal, community based e learning system.
The initiative will bring e-learning opportunities and ICT for learning resources to mobile teachers, instructional managers and out-of-school (OSYs) learners in the country in an exciting, innovative and locally meaningful way.
With this Project, the city could finally teach its out-of-school youth and adults on basic computer literacy right in its computer facilities in the communities, said CICT commissioner Perez.
“We congratulate and thank the city government for accepting the responsibility and the challenge and for its enthusiasm in supporting and sustaining the project.”
On the other hand, Tan, cited an example of common people in the communities who have explored the use of ICT beyond maintaining social connections.
According to her, using an agricultural website, farmers in La Trinidad, Benguet could now auction off their produce to traders and retailers directly via mobile phones and web technology.
She said there are a lot more individuals and communities who have been exposed to the many possibilities and benefits of ICT like Alaminos, which had decided to take advantage of these opportunities.
“On behalf of the CICT, we congratulate the Alaminos City Government for this worthwhile initiative of providing an opportunity for its people to take flight with WINGS and eSkwela,” she stressed.
“(Through these projects) Alaminos takes on the role of an active witness to the crucial role of ICT in this fast-evolving knowledge economy where ICT is considered to be a major factor in equalizing access to information, to education, to opportunities, and to lifelong learning.”
“I cannot emphasize enough how CICT values collaboration and cooperation in our efforts to encourage synergy and commitment among partners who share our vision,” Tan emphasized further.
Great endeavor
Gregorio said the initial launching of Eskwela will be one great endeavor for the city government of Alaminos and the DepEd family.
She said like other programs of ALS which were launched before, the said initiative if successfully implemented and supported by its partners, will benefit many of its learners.
“We, in the Bureau look forward and positively believe that this launching will be another milestone for the ALS Division specifically in Alaminos City,” added the OIC Asst. Chief Literacy Division, BALS Central Office.”
“The success of this Eskwela depends upon the commitment, dedication of those people who will be in-charge of this, so this will be our challenge to you.”
“But based on the testimonials of our stakeholders, E-Skwela project in Alaminos City will be very successful.”
In 2006, BALS had a partnership with CICT using the print modules of A&E Programs to address the OSY & adults.
With BALS counterpart, it started e-learning patterned through Eskwela with at least 3-4 computers with 1 server.
Dr. Tadeo earlier said the MOA signing simply speaks of the desire of both the city government and the Alaminos City Division to sustain this laudable initiative.
The OIC division chief thanked anew the forward-looking and hard working city head for this educational breakthrough.
“In today’s times, you cannot enter the global village without knowledge in IT,” he stressed.
“So this is indeed another dream come true and tangible program that seeks to integrate ICT in education by making high-quality, interactive, and engaging learning resources and tools accessible to our out-of-school youth and adults.”
Quality and relevant education
Mayor Braganza said what makes E-Skwela Program special is that every out-of-school youth and adult will appreciate anew the value of education like most of our school children.
“They will go back to school to learn, get connected to the world and discover new information via the internet,” he said.
“(As you have seen in our demo and heard in their testimonials) our farmers could now learn more from the internet new technologies to increase their yield, how to make organic fertilizers and market their products,” he said.
“The children or the wife and husband of an OFW could now regularly get in touch with their love ones abroad. Our teachers could now have better lessen plans thereby improving their classroom instructions and we can have a meeting with DepEd and our school principals without leaving their respective schools,” added the hardworking mayor.
And best of all, its very accessible and free of charge.
Braganza said he wanted the city’s children to excel noting that there is no substitute for quality education.
“We want our children to finish their studies and have their diploma," he said. "To me, diploma is like license, and with out it, it’s hard to succeed in life.”
“We are determined to sustain and finish this project and we are focused with our goal of bringing about changes in the communities and in preparing our children for a better future by learning quality and relevant education.”
The Braganza administration had conceptualized and implemented the city’s Bright Child Program in 2006, which was designed to build a well-educated, healthy and God centered citizenry as articulated in the Alaminos City’s Vision 2015.
Today, the program continue to reap dividends as evidenced by the city’s students and the city division as a whole winning various international, national and regional awards both in academics and non-academics.
With Mayor Braganza at the helm and with the full cooperation and support of DepEd Alaminos, city and barangay officials and the city residents as a whole, can now ascertain a brighter future for the young Alaminians. (CIO)
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