Starland believes IT is key in making students globally competitive

MANILA, Philippines - Arming students with the basic knowledge in information technology can help immensely in making them globally competitive.

This is according to Jean Dumago-Descaller, president of Starland International School Inc., one of the fastest-growing educational institutions in Metro Manila that has included IT in its curriculum as early as preschool.

“If our students are equipped with the basic knowledge and required skill level in IT, are properly trained, and have mastery of computer concepts and applications, they can easily find jobs after graduation or maybe during summer,” says Descaller, who has spent decades in the teaching profession before starting her own school.

Starland started out as a school for 20 pupils in Descaller’s own living room in Quezon City. Today, several branches of the school can be found as far as Butuan City.

Descaller credits the school’s success to subjects that enable children to rise to the challenges of the emerging global community, one of which is IT.

“IT subjects have been included in the curriculum of our preschool and elementary levels since 2003. Computer subjects for preschool students are included in the Cultural and Practical Arts subjects, while IT is incorporated in the Makabayan subjects of Grades 4 to 6 students. They are offered as separate subjects for high school as one of the basic components of the Career Exploratory Learning Areas,” she shares.

Descaller says they consider the latest developments in IT, particularly in multimedia and Web design, in choosing the subjects that they would include in the school’s curriculum.

“Our computer subjects equip students with specific skills in PC operation, computer hardware and programming concepts and applications. This is to provide them the opportunity and chance to take on entry-level jobs as they enter the tertiary level,” she says.

First-year high school students, for example, are taught HTML, JavaScript, and Dreamweaver programs. Sophomores are equipped in Macromedia Flash, Adobe Flash, and Movie Maker programs. Third-year students undergo Microsoft Visual Basic, while seniors are taught PC troubleshooting, digital design, and an understanding of PC hardware.

“Apart from academics, of course, we also want them to take part in extra-curricular activities and open themselves up to different cultures, while at the same time take pride in their own heritage and tradition. Starland International caters to a good number of foreign students. As such, we have come up with programs that encourage interaction among our Filipino and foreign students so that they’d learn more about each other’s cultures. We want to nurture our students’ holistic development,” Descaller says.

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Starland International Inc. currently offers preschool, elementary and high school levels in its Kamias, Quezon City branch. Its branches in Cubao, Caloocan and Butuan City offers preschool and elementary grades.