On iSchools, ICT Education, DepEd, and more

Commitment and drive can be spelled in a number of ways. He is somebody who offers to drive you anywhere you go just to facilitate the completion of a project. He is somebody who goes out of his way to facilitate jobs way beyond prescribed office hours. He is somebody who will do all of these with a smile.

Perhaps, this is the reason why ICT Coordinator Rommel Banzon has accomplished a lot since he assumed the post in the Division of Danao City. But if you ask him, having seven schools out of thirteen with computer laboratories is still not enough. what is admirable about him is his dream that all public secondary schools in Danao City will have computer laboratories.

Taking a respite from all the traveling he has been doing because of the CILC Training in Danao City this September 4 to 6 (first phase), he shared his thoughts on iSchools, DepEd, and ICT as a whole.

Balandra (Bl): Ano ang impact ng iSchools Program sa eskwelahan, sa mga bata, at sa mga titser?

Banzon (Bz): Malaking tulong itong programa with regards to the computer literacy program, is the same with the other DepEd program kaya lang yung sa CICT may training. Malaking package ang tulong ng CICT compared sa DepEd. Kasi sa DepEd, hardware at software lang ang binibigay. Wala ng training. Maliit lang seguro and budget ng DepEd. So, mahalaga ang programang ito kasi the same objectives lang naman sila ng DepEd.

Bl: How much of a help is the iSchool’s Project?

Bz: Malaking tulong ito hindi lamang sa mga students pero lalong lalo sa mga teachers. Hindi na sila mahirapan handwriting their lesson plan, recording. Deretso na kaagad sa computer.hindi na kailangan dito ang calculator. Makita kaagad yung resulta.

Bl: Regarding the iSchools Computer Laboratories, were you able to talk to the principals kung ano ang plano nila to sustain them?

Bz: I encouraged them to offer trainings, then makatulong na yung registration fees. Then ang bawat bata ay may maliit na contribution lang para maintenance. Yung computer subject inilagay ko sa card para maencourage lahat na mga bata mag-aral ng computer.

Bl: Kamusta naman po ang Lawaan at Beatriz? Were they able to maintain the laboratories?

Bz: Yes, so far, all units are functional.

Bl: Paano nila minemaintain ang labs nila?

Bz: Maximum utilization of the units, then iniencourage ko ang lahat na mga bata na mag-aral ng computer. Makakuha tayo sa kanila ng maliit na pondo pangmaintenance. We are requiring P10 per month as laboratory fee as agreed by the PTA Board.

Bl: Do you have long term or immediate plans (now that you have the computer labs) to integrate ICT in education?

Bz: Bawat subject supervisor sa Division, meron silang mentoring. Doon sila nag hahands-on ipapakita sa mga supervisor kung paano nila ginagamit sa subjects nila. So may integration. Sa palagay ko lang, ang malaking problema sa DepEd ay ang sustainability. Yun ang mahirap. (After the delivery of the hardware) Wala ng tulong. Hindi na minomonitor kung paano na ang units nila na dineliver after one year. Wala ng nagmonitor. So ako, bilang ICT coordinator, ako na lang ang nagmomonitor.

Bl: Yung sa DTI sir, sino ang nagmomonitor nun?

Bz: Wala. Walang DTI personnel na nagmomonitor kung ano na ang nangyari sa mga PC.

Bl: So, bumigay lang sila ng mga PC tapos wala na?

Bz: Wala na. Walang training. Sa package merong trsaining pero hindi naimplement. So ako na lang ang nagkaconduct n training sa mga guiro. So I organized computer training for five days. Makatulong nay yun lalong lalo na sa mga guro. Lalo na kung maimplement ang automated elections.

Bl: So may undergoing programs na tinitrain ang mga guro na magmaintain ng computer labs?

Bz: Opo. Pagkatapos ng roll out na ito, ituturo din ng (mga trainees) kung paano gamitin ang mga computers na ito para matrain din ang iba na gumamit ng Ubuntu para iba naman ang mag-explore.