BEAM Newsletter

Davao City DepEd launches eSkwela pilot center in Region XI

“Now, we can say that out-of-school youth are no longer disadvantaged, because they continue to have access to education through this eSkwela and ICT facility that the formal schools are having.” This was the gist of the closing statement of DepEd XI Regional Director and Philippine Project Manager Susana Teresa B. Estigoy.The eSkwela is an ICT project under the Office of the President in partnership with DepEd’s Bureau of Alternative Learning Systems (BALS) wherein the Non-formal Education Accreditation and Equivalency (NFE A&E) program is delivered electronically through computers. Set-up like a typical internet cafe, the learners go through the digitized modules representing the key competencies in the Accreditation & Equivalency program. Out-of-school youth who are the major target group of this program can easily access the self-instructional and interactive modules at their own pace and time.

The Alternative Learning Systems-Education for All (ALS-EFA) eSkwela program was launched last November 5, 2008 at the Region XI ALS Division. The event was attended by BALS national office representative Ma. Melissa D. Albino representing Director Carolina S. Guerrero; Cristina Tabalina representing ALS RXI Chief Erlinda C. Kadon; DepEd Davao City Division led by Superintendent Helen D. Paguican; BEAM staff led by Australian Project Director Ian D’Arcy Walsh and Deputy Australian Project Director and Community Development Adviser Ramon C. Bobier; a representative from the Office of the City and all the Davao City Division ALS Coordinators, mobile teachers and learners, led by ALS Davao City Division Supervisor Leticia B. Telesforo.

In her speech, Ms. Albino of BALS Central Office reiterated that “…the ALS is committed to the people, especially to the out-of-school youth and adults who cannot access basic education. We maximize the potential and skills of everyone in order to improve their quality of life and achieve sustainable development in every community. The BALS, in coordination with all ALS implementers in the field, are providing our target clientele with different modalities of learning so that we are sure that we can accommodate each one who needs our commitment.”

This sentiment is also shared by the BEAM Project through the Access component wherein the partnership with ALS started way back in 2002 through programs such as the Accreditation and Equivalency and Basic Literacy. This time, the BEAM Information Technology (IT) team pitched in to help set up the computers and equipment in the Davao City eSkwela pilot center. SDS Helen Paguican expressed her happiness and pride that Davao City was chosen as a pilot site, with the untiring efforts of ALS Chief Erlinda Kadon in lobbying for eSkwela. Other BEAM supported eSkwela pilots are in Sultan Kudarat for Region XII and minimal support is provided  for eSkwela in Asuncion, Davao del Norte.

The guests then proceeded to the Community Learning Center for the ribbon-cutting where they also interacted with some of the learners who were engrossed with the multimedia lessons on their computers. ALS Division Supervisor Leticia Telesforo explains: “This program surely is significant; I have seen it from the faces of the learners … the excitement of learning through ICT and the interest. None of the students were absent!”

After the guests had seen the students excitedly following the interactive lessons, Director Estigoy left a gentle reminder during her speech: “I hope that these equipment and e-modules do not fall as “for your eyes only,” it doesn’t matter if in the future we will have to repair some of the computers or replace the modules, as long as many have truly benefited from it.” This statement was met by cheers and applause from the crowd.

What is eSkwela?
The eSkwela Project, a word play on the Filipino equivalent of “school”, is an alternative learning project drawing on information and communication technology (ICT) to empower out-of-school youth in the Philippines. The Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), through its Human Capital Development Group (HCDG), has established community-based e-learning centres to provide basic education competence and life skills. The goal of eSkwela is to help enhance the capacity of out-of-school to be successful participants in the society.

Communication Strategies
Located in major centres around the country, “eSkwelas” serve as venues where out-of-school learners and other community members can learn new skills and competencies, review for the Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Exam of the DepEd-Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS), and/or help prepare learners to rejoin the formal school system. Recipient communities are provided with computer hardware (21-unit networked computer systems with multimedia peripherals), software (interactive e-learning modules, a customised Learning Management System), internet connectivity for one year, and educators’ training.

To date, 35 ALS print modules have been converted into electronic format, making use of ICT elements (multimedia, interactivity) in an effort to make the learning sessions more effective and engaging.
(Additional information are available by logging on to the eSkwela website.