Workbooks distributed in Iligan for higher NAT performance

ILIGAN CITY (MndaNews/16 February) -- Workbooks for science, English and math subjects designed to improve the comprehension, retention and analytical ability of pupils were distributed last Wednesday to elementary school principals and supervisors with the "aim of improving the passing rate of students in the upcoming National Achievement Test (NAT) by March 3 and 5."

Domingo V. Samson, schools division superintendent, said the worksheets "cover the fourth grading period which students could use for review and could bring at their respective homes."

Said worksheets will be distributed to Grades 6 and 3 pupils. Its production was funded by the city government through the office of the mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz.



Samson mandated teachers to integrate the lessons in these worksheets.

"We use to have an average of 47% of NAT result in 2007 which is way beyond the passing rate and which increase by 2% only in 2008. There is no such thing as impossible. We can slowly rise up from this dismal educational state if we will love our work, if we are true, and are honest always," he said.

This distribution of worksheets is part of the program of Task Force 47-74+1, a multi-sectoral network in the locality that works to contribute to the reversal of the dismal state of the country's educational system.

The task force will also publicize workbooks for students next school year.

Aurea Redondo, of the office of the city mayor, challenged principals and supervisors work together in solving the city's problem in education instead of passing the blame.

"You do not just receive worksheets but also take the cudgels of conscientiously performing the necessary tasks to conduct reviews in the forthcoming National Achievement Test (NAT)," she said.

She reckoned that "Iligan is supposed to be the best producer of manpower. But the dismal result of NAT examinations might severely affect the perceptions of companies who give high regard to our human resources and graduates."

Dr. Rhodora N. Englis, co-chair of the local task force and campus secretary of Mindanao State University-IIT, also updated principals and supervisors on the feeding program for malnourished children in piloted five schools of the city which is implemented by St. Michael's
College in partnership with Jollibee Foundation and other support groups.

Jollibee Foundation committed to feed pupils in four more elementary schools in the coming school year.

Last week, foundation representatives visited their school beneficiaries to monitor and evaluate the impact of their program.

Minnie Dalangin of Goodwill Mindanao, who is part of the task force, told supervisors and principals that they had trained 150 para-teachers from the college of education of MSU-IIT who would help improve the reading ability of pupils who fall within the frustration
level.

Dalangin said that other than remedial reading they will involve the association of parents to truly capacitate them in supporting their children to pass elementary school.

These activities are supported by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and the office of Congressman Vicente Belmonte of the first district of Iligan and Lanao del Norte. (Violeta M. Gloria/MindaNews)

Pilmico gives P500T to Iligan City's education program

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / September 12) — The Aboitiz-owned flour milling Pilmico Foods Corp. donated P500,000 to the city’s task force on education, to help the city lift the poor performance of its education sector.

“It’s a miracle! Somebody believes in our cause,” said Iligan city mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz, after he signed the deed of donation last Monday.

The Pilmico Foods Corp. donated the money to Task Force 47-74+1, a multi-sectoral movement here to reverse the down trend of the passing rate of pupils in the National Achievement Test (NAT).

The deed of donation stipulated that the “amount is intended for the reproduction of workbooks for grade six pupils which is academically eyed as a tool for the enhancement of their analytical and comprehensive skills”.

“We’re indeed very concern on the low performance of our children. This is a difficult task to accomplish without the benevolent involvement of education stakeholders,” said Reano Gumalo, vice president of the Cebu-based flour milling company.

Gumalo signed the deed of donation for the company. Iligan City schools division superintendent Domingo Samson also signed it. The signing was held September 8.

“We hope that our donation could help improve the learning capabilities of our pupils and may the workbooks hone the reading and analytical skills of pupils; increase their level of comprehension competencies and effectiveness as well as their literacy,” he added. [More at MindaNews]