The Department of Education (DepEd) has partnered with SEAMEO INNOTECH, a South East Asia-based educational institution, to upgrade the competencies of school principals to improve the quality and reach of education in the public school system.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus tapped SEAMEO INNOTECH (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology) to initially train some 1,600 school principals all over the country under the DepEd eXCELS - Excellence in School Leadership in Southeast Asia.
“We believe that the school principals are critical players in delivering quality basic education,” Lapus said. “By upgrading their competencies, we optimize the principal’s leadership and management capabilities while updating them on the latest trends in curriculum and instruction,” he added.
The combination of online classes, individual coaching through the Internet and face-to-face sessions will help maximize group and individual learning, while ensuring that the outputs are produced by the principals themselves.
To date, some 1,200 principals have undergone four weeks of intensive online sessions where a flexible learning tutor guides them through different sessions. The principals can either have group interaction, one-on-one consultations with the flexible learning tutor, or do online forums among their peers.
On their own time, the principals read, download and study resource materials, and answer exercises and case studies. Among the learning resources for the principals are the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) materials and the Harvard Education Review online.
“We are pleased that the DepEd leadership can see the potentials of the flexible learning system and appreciate the opportunities it offers for the future,” said Dr. Erlinda Pefianco, SEAMEO INNOTECH Director.
One major requirement in the course is to put together a school improvement plan for their region. The partner TEI also grants 3 academic credits leading to a graduate degree in education.
The program is currently being operated by SEAMEO INNOTECH. It has successfully demonstrated the system in the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia. Pefianco hopes to mainstream it in the Philippines.
“We are looking at DepEd and our partner TEIs to institutionalize the program. There are more than 40,000 schools all over the country and each principal could be trained through the system.. It will need some investment in hardware and operating systems, though,” Dr. Pefianco said.
Cagayan de Oro City - IN collaboration with the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology (PFST), Tangub City in Misamis Occidental continues to host the “Science on the Move: A Traveling Science Centrum Part III” at the Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science & Technology (NMSC), August 8-September 7, 2008.
This traveling exhibition (Adventures in Discovery and Sci-Fun Caravan) is designed to make students and pupils have fun, learn and experience scientific principles, which are presented creatively.
The display consists of 40 hands-on exhibits grouped into five sets: Mathematics (includes Water Parabola, Hyperbolic Slot, Pythagorean Theorem, Probability Machine, Hyperbolic String, and Cycloid Racer); Mechanics (covers Gyroscope, Wind Tunnel, Archimedes Screw, Uphill Cone, Gears, Lift Yourself [Pulleys] and Bernoulli Blower; The third set Energy (includes Wind Generator, Steam Generator, Water Generator, Solar Power, and Hot Spot); The Electricity & Magnetism (covers Magnetism/Demagnetizer, Saltwater Battery and Robot Arm); and the Vision and Perception (involves Impossible Triangle, Zoetrope, 3D Glasses, Rotating Disc, Optical Illusion, Eye Tricks and Talking Heads).
The event also aims at improving the economic and social well-being of the people and to fast-track the development of interactive learning in the region in general and in the city in particular through science and technology.
The enriching exhibitions have already generated almost two million viewers after visiting 51 cities and provinces around the country.
The general admission fee is P40 per head. Exhibits will be available only from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Mondays through Saturdays.
Visitors can contact the following persons for inquiries and arrangement of schedules: Tessie C. Lomanta (City Administrator) at (088) -354-1228/ 0918-920-6566 and Lucy B. Amora (Executive Secretary) at (088)-354-1333; 354-1414/ 0918-920-6560.
Cagayan de Oro City - THE Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology (NMSC) marked its seventh year through a week-long celebration with the theme “Hurdle Towards Better Services” last July 28-August 1 in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental.
NMSC (formerly Tangub Agro-Industrial School) was converted into a state college by virtue of Republic Act 9146 last July 30, 2001 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Various activities highlighted this week-long celebration, among them intramural games and a cheerleading competition participated in by the different college departments, laboratory secondary department, faculty and administrative staff.
One of the highlights of the festivity was the Search for Miss Talent and Mr. Intramural 2008, including the “Pista sa Nayon” on the fourth day.
On the fifth day, an exhibit or open house featuring the various projects submitted by student was made available to the public.
On the same day, a trade skills competition was also conducted, participated in by students enrolled in industrial technology and agriculture.
NMSC has total student population of 1496 of which 162 are in high school.
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