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Welcome to the Aklan State University! An academic pillar of excellence for sustainable development strategically located at the foot of mount Manduyog in Banga, Aklan, Philippines.
This is a place where democracy is alive and well, freedom is upheld, and vigilance is a common tongue. Go for the ideals of Datu Manduyog! Spread his wisdom. Lead and rule.

Meeting gives new light on iSchools project

By Milvi Mae I. Candari

Conference clears doubts and sheds new perspectives regarding the new project.

The Ibajay National High School in Aklan hosted the briefing and consultative conference on the new iSchools Project launched by the Commission in Information and Communication Technology – Human Capital Development Group (CICT – HCDG) on September 18, 2007.
The iSchools Project aims to strengthen classroom instruction learning by expanding access to the iSchools Project of the Commissions on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) through varied multi-media such as the internet.
The conference was called for the seven recipients of the iSchool Project in Aklan: Ibajay National High School, Aguinaldo T. Repiedad Sr. Integrated School, Manuel Onato High School, Capiz National High School, Inapoy National High School, Himamaylan National High School – San Antonio Extension, and Romblon National High School.
Seven principals, four selected teachers, five CILC trainers, two local officials of Ibajay, 15 Parents’-Teachers’-Community Association (PTCA) officers, and 112 selected students as participants of recipient schools attended the briefing and conference.

Issues and concerns raised during the initial visit the previous month were taken up and given immediate and possible solutions.
Issues and concerns were
Limited access to government resources
Lack of training how to manage computer laboratory
Training needed before the deployment of computers
How to operate the Community eCenter
Additional cost for the operation of the project
Maintenance and security of the computers

The project sites were approved as suitable for the project after the evaluation conducted by the sponsors. The recipients were accessible to the national road, had existing electricity, computer laboratories, telephone lines for Internet access, and ready teachers for the establishment of the iSchools Project.
The recipients and the local community were clarified of the benefits of the project.
The principals arranged and organized the schedule of the onsite stakeholders’ meeting in their respective schools with the following schedules
September 20, 2007 (PM) – Aguinaldo T. Repiedad Sr. Integrated School
September 21, 2007 (AM) – Manuel Onato National High School
September 21, 2007 (PM) – Capiz National High School
September 24, 2007 (AM) – Romblon National High School
September 27, 2007 (PM) – Inapoy National High School
September 27, 2007 (PM) – Himamaylan National High School

Aklan State University Implements CICT iSchools Project

By Grace C. Cruz

Seven public high schools have been assigned to the Aklan State University in the 2nd Phase iSchools Project of the Commission on Information and Communication Technology.

The seven public high schools assigned to ASU are: Aguinaldo T. Repiedad Sr Integrated School, Ibajay National High School, Manuel F. Onato Memorial National High School, Capiz National High School, Inapoy National High School, Himamaylan National High School-San Antonio Extension, and Romblon National High School.

The purpose of the project is to support the government and the Department of Education in strengthening classroom learning and instruction through the expansion to various sources of information.

The project had provided the beneficiary schools with 21 computers, one-year Internet connectivity and teachers’ training.

ASU conducts website development training

By Nenette D. Repayo

Aklan State University through its Information and Communication Center conducted training on website development from October 9-13.

This training involved the English teachers from two of the seven iSchools beneficiaries in Aklan assigned to ASU as implementer. These are the Aguinaldo T. Repiedad Sr Integrated School, Banga, and the Ibajay National High School, Ibajay. Likewise, the ASU Laboratory High School sent participants to the training.

iSchools is a banner project of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology which is in its second phase of implementation. Its main objective is to support the Government and the Department of Education in its effort to strengthen classroom learning and instruction by incorporating information and communication technology. The project provides beneficiary schools with 21 computers, one-year Internet connectivity, and relevant educators’ training in the effective use of ICT in the education process.

The 5-day activity which focused on the creation of web form, web page design, and web scripts ended with the presentation of the trainees outputs.

iSchools Project Conquers Inapoy National High School

Despite the absence of computers, students manage to learn the basic of education through limited teaching aids

By Ersyl T. Biray

Amidst a remote mountainous sugarcane plantation in the upcoming urban city of Kabankalan, Negros Occidental is nestled a government-run high school named after its place, the Inapoy National High School. So distantly located from the city, this national high school can be reached through a 30-minute bus and a 40-minute motorbike rides passing by tenanted haciendas and dusty rough roads.

Notwithstanding the long and bumpy rides, panoramic views of sugarcane stretches, some under coconut plantations, and sacadas (or sugarcane cutters) walking in queues with sugarcane bundles on their shoulders capture your sight. Restless souls they seem but no traces of stress can be pictured from their faces. This is because Inapoy is one barangay where sturdy men and hard-working women rear their children in fear of God and love for education. Close family tie is a common thing.

Students content themselves to learning what their school can offer and what their teachers can give. They learn basic education in classrooms with no electricity and limited facilities. While most urban government-supported secondary schools receive supplies of books and other learning support materials, Inapoy National High School students make use of chalk and blackboard as good media for learning. They have limited books to scan and read, no laboratory room to work on, and not even a computer unit but pictures to talk about. Their teachers use personal cellphones to send and receive communications to concerned agencies.

But hopelessness never did come into the minds of Inapoyans. With the thrust of the government to uplift the standards of education by reaching out and providing electronic education to all high school students, the Commission on Information and Communications Technology - Human Capital Development Group (CICT-HCDG), in coordination with the Department of Education went through scouting for deserving recipients for its iSchools project. Luckily, the wheel of fortune run on the Inapoy National High School. After it passed the criteria as a recipient school, it will receive computer units and training programs for its teachers and students from CICT-HCDG.

The school community was overwhelmed when this news reached them. They knew that computer education will no longer be with the chalk on the board nor by drawing alone. This time they will finally grasp and touch what computer is and how this will be of help to their studies. Parents, too, were inspired upon knowing that their children will be able to use an information technology other students were privileged to use.

With this development, the city mayor of Kabangkalan has pledged to put up a computer room for Inapoy National High School, and the local leaders has shown support to its immediate implementation and operation by taking all possible means of connecting the school to a local electric cooperative.

Indeed, for the Inapoyans this is a dream-come-true!

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Related Stories:

Ø On to the Web by Nenet Repayo

Ø ASU ICT Goes national, digital

Stakeholders apprehensive over iSchools implementation

Principals, PTCA officials wary over post-turnover situation, but local leaders and congressmen are supportive of this ICT project

By Ersyl T. Biray

Beneficiaries of the iSchools project of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology - Human Capital Development Group (CICT-HCDG) raised apprehensions on its implementation during a series of briefing and consultative conferences conducted by the Aklan State University (ASU) in September this year.

High school principals and officers of parents-teachers associations of recipient schools expressed fears that financial problems regarding computer laboratory operation, and the benefits they would derive from the project might be left out after the turnover. They also raised the issue on supervision of computer laboratory operation as teachers have teaching overload, and some students were observed to be better than their teachers in computer operation. Barangay leaders themselves inquired if their constituents can also avail of the project.

However, Dr. Roberto S. Saladar, Director of the Information and Communication Technology Center of ASU and one of iSchools Project Management implementers, pointed out that the local government executives were receptive of the project. In fact, the mayors of Kabankalan City, and Himamaylan in Negros Occidental pledged to construct one computer laboratory room for Inapoy National High School, and Himamaylan National High School-San Antonio Extension, respectively. Congressmen of recipient provinces were even enthusiastic in endorsing the implementation of said projects.

Seven public high schools were chosen as beneficiaries of this project with the ASU as implementer. These are the:

Ø Aguinaldo T. Repiedad Sr Integrated School, Banga, Aklan

Ø Ibajay National High School, Ibajay, Aklan

Ø Manuel F. Onato Memorial National High School, Dumarao, Capiz

Ø Capiz National High School, Roxas City, Capiz

Ø Inapoy National High School, Kabankalan, Negros Occidental

Ø Himamaylan National High School-San Antonio Extension, Himamaylan, Negros Occidental

Ø Romblon National High School in Romblon.

Related Stories:

Ø ASU inks MOA with CICT-HCDG

Ø ASU conducts roll-out training to recipients

Ø ASU ICT goes national, digital