2nd eSkwela Conference

Everyone's excited about the 2nd eSkwela Conference to be held week after next in Lian, Batangas.

The team is in the thick of preparations - coordinating heavily with the counterpart team from the Batangas State University, finalizing the program of activities, list of participants and Resource Persons.

Exciting. Stressful. Frustrating at times. Confusing, too.

But we are confident that we'll pull through with flying colors. Right, team?

It matters a lot that we believe in the project that we have come to love...and know that we can rely on each other to make things work, despite the numerous constraints and challenges.

To all the invited participants, we promise you an informative, fun-filled 4-day event! See you there!

- mel

Learner Interview in Zamboanga

My grandmother use to say that her kids had to go through such grueling tasks just to enter school; from selling all sorts of food products to walking hours and hours just to reach school premises. Again and again, she would point out that education is the only thing that she can give her kids once all else comes to an end for her. That was why education was, is, and always will be a big deal for us – having spent my childhood years with her and all that.

But you see I never knew first-hand how it would be to make such efforts just to enter school so most of the time I have to rely on stories in order to appreciate the value of education more and more.

So here goes one of those stories…

Just recently I had an opportunity to visit our eSkwela site in Zamboanga City and I sure am grateful to have met quite a lot of people. It was also then and there that I shared a meaningful exchange with Ate Shirley.

Ate Shirley is a third year high school drop out. Married young and now has a 4 year-old son whom she adores. She said that a few months back her husband used to work in Basilan and their family had to endure the condition of being with so many rebels hovering within the vicinity. It was only on the latter part of the year of 2008 that they decided to move back to Zamboanga and start their own sari-sari store. It was the perfect set-up since she now has it in her own hands to help settle their financial whereabouts and take care of her son at the same time. One thing was quite amiss though, somehow she wanted more.

It's a good thing that her neighbor, who's also a district ALS coordinator, told her about eSkwela. She said that she never would've thought that she'll have the opportunity to continue her studies. Armed with her notebook, pen, and sheer determination to learn she continues to strive forward for herself and her family. She then makes it a point to allot her Friday mornings to go to the center even if she had to spend sixty pesos for her back and forth fare. Indeed, looking at her discuss the Circulatory System with her seat mate while she was making notes to bring home that day placed a smile deep in my gut.

Hers is but one of the few stories that was waiting to be heard that afternoon and I did manage to hear a few more but then Ate Shirley's story was just my 'it' for the day. A classic example as to why I'd still have to salute my Lola Cion for her unwavering stance on the value education.

News: Eighth eSkwela Center Launched in Kalumpang

eSkwela – Kalumpang is the newest addition to the roster of eSkwela centers in the country.

Launched last February 2, 2009, the eighth eSkwela site serves the needs of out-of-school youths and adults residing in Barangay Kalumpang, Marikina City. Mobile teacher Ivy Coney Gamatero, who will be handling the learning sessions, is now bringing in eSkwela learners. A total of 39 learners, including Maicar Llaver, 34, a baker, enrolled in eSkwela. During the orientation of eSkwela learners, Llaver said: “Hindi na po tinapay ang hawak ko kundi computer na.”

The establishment of the eSkwela center was made possible through the efforts of CICT, ALS – Marikina City; Barangay Kalumpang; and Rotary Club of Marikina South. CICT has already provided 41 learning modules; six of which have been newly certified by ALS. ALS – Marikina City will be sending in mobile teachers, while Barangay Kalumpang will be shouldering the operational expenses of the eSkwela center. Barangay Kalumpang will also be allotting a center solely for eSkwela use.

The Rotary Club of Marikina South started new programs, which are exclusive to eSkwela learners. Rotarians will be serving as mentors, guiding the learners as they go on with the sessions, through the “Adopt-a-learner” program. They will also be giving college scholarships to eSkwela graduates, who get to pass the Accreditation and Equivalency Exam. Scholars can enroll at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina.

Present at the eSkwela – Kalumpang launch were Director Carolina S. Guerrero of DepEd – BALS; Dr. Virginia E. Silvestre, ALS Chief of DepED – NCR; Dr. Flordeliza R. Mayari, the Schools Division Superintendent of Marikina City; Honorable Councilor Boggs S. Reyes of Marikina City; Rotary Club President Mr. Edu Magtaos; Brgy. Captain Enrico Chu of Kalumpang; and Ave Mejia, eSkwela Project Officer and CICT representative.

News: eSkwela Teacher Training Conducted in Oroquieta

Mobile teachers and instructional managers from upcoming, as well as existing eSkwela centers, in the Visayas and Mindanao region have participated in the Teacher Training on the Customized eSkwela Instructional Model last January 28-30 held at the Misamis Occidental National High School in Oroquieta City.

Upcoming eSkwela centers are located in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental; Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur; Sultan Kudarat; Digos City; and Tanauan, Leyte. Existing eSkwela centers are situated in the cities of Davao and Zamboanga.

The Commission on Information and Communications Technology is working in partnership with different local government units, Department of Education - Alternative Learning System (DepEd - ALS) divisions, and private organizations in establishing eSkwela centers in Visayas and Mindanao.

The eSkwela team, headed by Project Manager Maria Melizza D. Tan, conducted the training. Ms. Tan gave an overview of the project, while Project Officer Maui Salang presented the eSkwela Instructional Model. Ms. Salang introduced the participants to education tools and resources available over the internet, Module Guides and the Learning Management System.

During the training period, the eSkwela team also conducted module installation and site inspection in Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga City, and Davao City; and a stakeholders’ meeting in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

Technology in the Eyes of a Child

by Gener Luis Morada, Country Representative, G.ho.st Virtual PC

Being in a room full of school administrators, teachers, parents and government officials could be one of the most terrifying experiences of an internet café owner with an educational advocacy. Most of the times I often sit there and wait till I am acknowledge. If asked of what I do for a living what comes into my mind is what Eric Raymond has narrated in "Revolution OS" and franklya tell them "I am your worst nightmare."

Last Tuesday, February 3, 2009, I was fortunate enough to be invited in the "Round Table Discussion on Elearning" that was organized by the British Council and the British Alumni Association. Participants were the major stakeholders in incorporating the use of technology in Philippine education. There were the usual officials of the Department of Education, school administrators, those in the private and the NGOs that are providing assistance to the educational sector in the field of technology. I have attended similar activities in the past and most of the time the usual discussions takes place.

Mr. Gavin Dudeney, the main presentor for the round table discussion asked the participants about their experiences in the Philippines on how technology is being integrated in education. The participants responded with the usual answers like the lack of hardware, the resistance to change of some teachers, lack of infrastructure, lack of standards and others which was the usual reply in activities like these. These are problems that were identified in so numerous activities of the Deped that one could be tired of hearing about it all over again.

During the discussion a though has occurred to me that it seems that the participant's approach in incorporating technology in education is more on the adult or a managers perception on how to do it. We often complain that no matter what's being done is not always enough to suit the needs. It's very stiff and often very working on certain boundaries. Maybe a new prospective is needed in order to give these problems a new twist.

Technology in the Eyes of the Child

In the Bible (please don't ask me where since I only remembered it through my religion classes in my long years of studying in a catholic school) when Jesus asked about faith he answered that one should see it through the eyes of the child. Maybe that is what we are forgetting that in our haste of incorporating technology in education we failed to consider how technology is being perceived in the eyes of a child.

Technology in the eyes of child is fun. I remember the time I was growing up, it was 1972 and martial law was just declared. During that time almost all television shows were cancelled except for cartoons and Sesame Street. Those who were well off during those times could afford television for it was too expensive then that the whole neighborhood was watching television right there in your living room or through your windows. At those time, Filipinos were very much proficient in the English language since the television shows and movies back them were mostly in English. Fast forward 30 years hence we find ourselves in a situation of having a generation of Filipinos failing English proficiency examinations or who could hardly read and write in functional English.

Our educational officials are finger pointing as to how we have reach this point that it is very difficult to comprehend since we do have a lot of Doctors in Education but yet we have a generation that is failing in English proficiency. The answer could lie in the fact that we have taken a very stiff approach to the problem. In our world right now English is something that is very structured or a combination of words and its relationships such as adverbs, adjectives, nouns, open sentences and so many technical jargons. We forget about one thing that learning should be fun and one learn something very eagerly when he is having fun. Our world right now is a world of complexities that I find it amusing to learn that there is now a prohibition to air past episodes of Sesame Street most especially the episodes done in the 1960's since they considered the scene of milking the cow as a cruel and inhumane way of treating animals for heaven's sake.

Recently I saw the pictures posted in Facebook by Ms. Ruth Marya, an Indonesian friend and colleague studying at the President's Open Source University about their recent activity teaching open source to children. I emailed her and requested an outline of their program. What she shared with me provided an insight Ruth being young not like me only young at heart. In explaining what an operating system is all about she told the participants that it is the soul of the computer that without it the computer would just be a shell. In the end of her long email that after she itemize the software they were using she said they had a lot of fun. I guess that's it we have to take back the fun part in technology in our schools so that our children would learn.

eSkwela a la Carte: Recipe of a Three-Year old Project

One Sunday afternoon, I was thrilled to write something about eSkwela Project after aimlessly drifting from one television channel to another and finally tuning into a daily cooking show. You are wrong if you think that dabbling into creative writing is one of my New Year’s resolutions. I was just ecstatic to look back and realize that so many things have happened. I did not notice that months have passed until Christmas and New Year were there to celebrate.

First, eSkwela is turning three, and needless to say, part and parcel of the development process are the inevitable birth pains and satisfactory returns. Second, we have conducted pioneering events on the promotion of ICT and its development - the Content Development Conference and the ICT camp. Third, we have additional centers and we are getting into the system of streamlining our operations. We also had a creamer to top everything that we have done - a Certificate of Commendation awarded by no less than UNESCO!

Implementing the project is no walk in the park for we have stumbled upon challenges and constraints, but we have surmounted them in the end. We are just thankful that we have satisfying end results to set off our shortcomings. And looking at how eSkwela is working right now, I can say that it is one great dish to offer. What makes a good dish, though, are the ingredients contained therein, and these are the reasons why eSkwela turned out to be as valued as it is today.

• Proper delegation of tasks

eSkwela is not a one-man project. Tasks are properly delegated among our team members as well as external partners, allowing our project team to be flexible and not get bogged down in the minutiae. Our team members are distributed among our four units (Content Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Instructional Model and Technical) according to his or her competency. However, each individual is not confined to a specific unit; one can be tapped by another when cases are called upon.

• Competent staff

As the literature says, an organization’s best asset is its people. An organization performs well if its members can effectively assemble and collaborate. In addition, there is wisdom, which touches upon the experiences of individuals. The quality and depth of knowledge provides diversity within the team. But more than the competency, every member of the team is willing to learn and explore new ways of doing things, is not easily discouraged by obstacles, and has the heart for the project.


• Smooth group dynamics

We are a pool of different personalities; each has his/her own unique traits and eccentricities. It is an individual’s recognition of his or her personal values that makes us work professionally. Also bringing the project together is the bond that exists between our own personal values and the over-all goals of the project.

• Guidance from expert consultants

Seeking guidance and recommendation from expert consultants does not lessen our sense of ownership to the project. It only increases our confidence for we know that we are treading the right path.

• Good working relationship with partner agencies

Aside from having a highly satisfying rapport with our expert consultants, we also have a harmonious relationship with our partner agencies. Working hand-in-hand with other agencies, we acknowledge as well as take in different but interdependent contributions.

• Dedicated and collaborative site implementers

Consider us lucky to have site implementers who have an equal burning passion to make the project a success. Our site implementers whose enthusiasm to leverage the condition of the underserved sector of the society are always present. Our field partners are known for their untiring efforts to collaborate with us in mutual aim of continuously improving each of our units for the sake of our end users. Our interdependency is clearly understood and managed because of constant communication and active collaboration with one another.

• Reflective and up-to-date monitoring and evaluation

It may sound simple enough, but there are risks that are “insignificant” at the beginning of the project that becomes “catastrophic” due to neglect. Capturing all risk in a risk register ensures – at the very least- there is a record of it and it will not be lost. Furthermore, by documenting everything, references are readily available for any disputes.

As practice, the team regularly conducts postmortem meetings to hash out any issues, improving production support as well as the project processes. Issues that caused any delays or restructuring of project focus and in implementation as well as “morning after” support problems are always collected. These are used to analyze procedures for improvement, and are not regarded as opportunities for personal criticism.

• Capability building approach supports the eQuality program of CICT

Taking into account different perspectives, both internal and external, our capability building approach is one of our project’s great achievements. In addition, we take into consideration the dynamics between and among our project components. Capability building is the heart of our project performance. By harnessing our capabilities, we overcome constraints that can hamper our targets. Likewise, we grab opportunities that can accelerate our development plans.

• Participatory approach in all activities and decision-making

The management team values its stakeholders as one of the major key players in the development of the project. It is always a must that our stakeholders are provided with updates about our milestones and that their expectations are being met. The design of our processes is open to those who are directly affected, giving them the chance to speak out about possible effects. In return, we pass on to them the sense of ownership and accountability for the project.


The development of our project is a process of trial and error, of not being afraid to innovate. Just like a cooking session its a process of mixing and blending; of trying something new to twist the traditional concoction. We do not have the right amount of ingredients at the very beginning. We just have a goal to finish at the end --- to serve you a bigger and better eSkwela Project.

ICT Camp Newsletter - November 23, 2008

Newsletter - Nov 23

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