A Gem Of  Hope  For Mindanao

On his way to school in Zamboanga Sibugay a few years ago, science teacher Apolonio Solis, frustrated by the lack of science equipment at his school, got an idea about how to demonstrate the colors of light to his fourth year science students. He showed his class of 50 students a DVD, and held the disc against the sunlight, showing the students various colors reflected on the shiny surface.

“It was frustrating, even if they looked convinced. The school didn’t even have a single prism. It was a sunny day and no rainbow appeared in the sky to help me illustrate the lesson,” he recalls. Solis teaches Physics in Olutanga National High School and experiences the typical difficulties associated with the lack of resources that plague the country’s public schools.

Teaching Biology presented a similar challenge for Rolando Laurie, because the school only had a single defective microscope. “It was tough,” he says. “It seemed as if we were talking nonsense. When I taught them about microorganisms, I couldn’t force them to believe that these objects really are visible under a microscope because they couldn’t see for themselves.”

A chronic shortage of classrooms, overcrowding, and insufficient resources have become commonplace in public schools, and such situations are even more prevalent in public schools throughout Mindanao. In 2007, for example, out of the national P134.7 billion Basic Education Budget, only P1.76 billion has been apportioned for improving school facilities, purchasing textbooks, and training teachers.  But the Parent-Teacher Community Association (PTCA) of Olutanga National High School decided to take matters into its own hands. The school has a population of 1,180 students, and is located in the remote barangay of Solar, 18 kilometers from the Guicam Port, on the mainland of Alicia. When heavy rains arrive, inland villages on the island become inaccessible due to poor road conditions, and children have a difficult time making their way to school.

In 2005, members of the PTCA heard about the Computer Literacy and Internet Connection (CLIC) program implemented by the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) program. The PTCA submitted an application for assistance and in September of that year, the school received ten computers, high speed Internet connection, and various computer peripherals. CLIC promotes computer literacy and information technology for teachers and students across the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict-affected areas in the region. Providing students with access to the Internet enables them to access resources and information for research projects, and to establish e-mail accounts to communicate with other students throughout the world. Providing Internet access enables teachers to develop instructional content and materials based on a wide range of sources.

USAID, through the GEM Program, has provided computers and high-speed Internet connections to 655 schools in conflict-affected areas throughout Mindanao.

The initiative of the school’s PTCA did not end with the acquisition of computers and Internet connection. Determined to improve the science laboratory and the library, and to create a multimedia center, the PTCA aggressively raised funds, and then applied for a matching grant from GEM’s Education Awareness and Support Effort (EASE). GEM matched the $2,000 raised by the PTCA and the school now has its library, its science laboratory and its multimedia center. To date, more than 540 PTCAs throughout Mindanao have raised more than $500,000 to improve programs at individual schools, and USAID, through EASE, has matched these funds.

 “When we received the grant from EASE, I was excited that I was then able to show the students a prism, and the colors are now more visible. I don’t have to worry anymore about not having rainbows in the sky,” says Solis, adding that because of the new science equipment, his students now participate more in class.

Using their new microscopes, biology students can now see for themselves the reality of microscopic organisms. “They no longer have to imagine microorganisms because they can now manipulate the microscopes. Science has never been this much fun for them,” says Laurie.

For both teachers, the availability of additional educational resources has raised the interest of students in attending school, despite the difficulties they may encounter in getting there. Eden Pahamutang, a 3rd year student, usually hikes to school. Eden starts her day at four in the morning to do chores and to prepare for school. Together with neighbors, she walks two hours to school, starting out at 6:30 a.m.

Eden is the oldest of five siblings. Her father ekes out a living from farming and looks for part-time jobs when the crops are not in season. Her mother stays at home to watch over her newborn child. Only when her parents have extra money is Eden able to spend the P20 for a habal-habal ride to school.

In school, Eden spends some of her free time in the library, reading Math books. Her enthusiasm for the subject has been sparked in part by the new books the school received from EASE. The new Math books illustrate mathematical problems through colorful visuals, making the subject more interesting for the students.

“I love Math and now I can learn better,” says Eden, who hopes to earn a Commerce degree and to work in a bank someday.

The Internet-connected computers have transported the students of Olutanga beyond their small island to the rest of the world. The computers link the school to the worldwide web through a satellite-based Internet connection.

Fourth year student Al-Khaizer Amil was thrilled at the mention of the Internet. When first accessing the worldwide web, he browsed the website of the Philippine Military Academy because he hopes for a career as a soldier. “I read about the benefits of serving in the Armed Forces and it surprised me that I got a lot of information in just a matter of minutes,” says the 15-year-old Tausug who has become an Information Technology devotee.

The Internet connection in Olutanga has offered broader opportunities for the students, a number of whom are considering taking IT courses in college. Students now have e-mail addresses, do research work through the Internet, and have become familiar with technological terms.

CLIC has had a positive impact not only on the students, but has also connected teachers to the information superhighway. “Before, only our principal had access to a computer. We had one typewriter assigned to the teachers and there was always trouble over who got to use it first. It has caused many conflicts among teachers,” explains Mario Calipes, a Math teacher who is also the IT Coordinator of the school.

Just like their students, teachers also use the Internet for research, as well as to obtain information from the Department of Education and other government websites. Science teachers, for instance, regularly monitor the Department of Science and Technology website to update themselves on new developments.

“I have accessed modules for free and I discovered a lot of references for my lessons,” Laurie says, adding that the lesson plans they received before were mostly incomplete, covering only the first two marking periods of the school year. “Now, it’s just a matter of downloading the file and it’s ready for printing!” Because of the CLIC computers, they also have learned to use Microsoft Excel to compute grades.

The improvements in teacher and student performance are evidenced by the school’s having placed third out of 52 schools in the Zamboanga Sibugay Division in the National Achievement Test for school year 2005-2006.

Since the start of GEM’s assistance to Olutanga, the school’s PTCA has become a strong partner of the school administration and the teachers. According to PTCA president Andres Bascar, Jr., the cooperation of the parents, teachers and various sectors in Olutanga has led to the completion of many projects for the school.

“It’s wonderful to see that parents, even if they don’t earn much from fishing and farming, have given what they could. We have also received support from both public and private organizations here,” Bascar shares.

The national government and the municipal government of Olutanga have also made significant contributions, constructing an Industrial Arts and Science Laboratory building. Plans have also been made for the construction of a two-storey building to house additional eight classrooms.

Buoyed by the students’ and teachers’ responses to the resources provided by the EASE matching grant, the PTCA raised additional funds, which were matched by EASE, for the purchase of an LCD projector.

Poverty is often a major obstacle to the pursuit of education.’“That’s why we always encourage them to keep their spirits up. There will always be challenges but we’re blessed that there are people and organizations like USAID that help us reach our dreams,” Bascar says.

“Even if we live on an island, it doesn’t mean that we will not progress. And even if we are poor, it doesn’t also mean that we will not succeed. As long as we work hard and have interest for education, then we will have the hope to reach our goals and ambitions.”