By Michelle Ducut
Twelve innovative projects aimed at enhancing the quality of learning in Ilocos Norte were showcased at the 2024 BANNUAR: INLaB for Education Innovation Summit, held on Monday at the Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel.
These initiatives, coming from various schools within the Schools Division of Ilocos Norte, Schools Division of Laoag City, and Schools Division of the City of Batac (INLaB), focus on fostering transformation in the educational system through collaboration, innovation, and knowledge-sharing among educators, administrators, and stakeholders.
In his speech, Department of Education (DepEd) regional director Tolentino Aquino emphasized the importance of collaboration in creating best practices and pooling resources for collective success. His message was delivered by regional education program supervisor Francis Domingo.
Among the featured projects, Lester Jay Caba of Catagtaguen National High School in Banna, Ilocos Norte, introduced “Mission Eunoia,” a program that encourages mindfulness through activities involving students, teachers, alumni, and village officials. This initiative aims to combat rising dropout rates by fostering a “safe space” culture, where students feel accepted and loved. Caba also highlighted the need to strengthen guidance and counseling programs for students’ mental well-being.
At Sarpad Integrated School in Vintar, teachers Jose Crisostomo Ramones, Lovely Queenie Rumbaoa, and Mark Calumpit launched “Project HOPE” (Helping and Optimizing Progress for Every Juan), which addresses bullying and absenteeism by providing free school uniforms to financially disadvantaged students. Rumbaoa noted that bullying has increased post-pandemic, but the project also instills hope in students, providing more than just material aid.
In Pasuquin, Manny Pagaduan and Jhonel Tangonan of Sta. Catalina and Pungto Elementary Schools presented Project DRIVE (Depositing Resources in a Virtual Envelop), which uses Google tools to reduce teachers’ administrative burdens, giving them more time to focus on student engagement. Meanwhile, Gene Paul Cruz from Banban National High School introduced Project OLATS (Offline Learning Assessment Toolkit System), which simplifies and automates teacher reports through Microsoft Excel.
Lawyer Allan Barcena, assistant vice president of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), commended the community-driven nature of these innovative projects. The EDC has pledged PHP 20,000 for each project to ensure its sustainability, with the top three projects in the categories of curriculum and instruction, governance, and skills development receiving PHP 30,000.
Deborah Melchor, the EDC’s corporate social responsibility program chief, emphasized the importance of focusing on the innovation process rather than individual personalities, ensuring continued collaboration and assessing the projects’ impact.
The Energy Development Corporation’s support will help ensure that these projects continue to provide valuable educational solutions for the region’s learners.