In a bid to strengthen the basic education in the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA), the Department of Science and Technology-Cordillera through its Provincial Science and Technology Office-Kalinga deployed three more units of the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosks (Starbooks) in Pasil town onMarch 2.
Funded under the “Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) for Pasil 2022,” Bagtayan Elementary School, Batong Buhay ES, and Dalupa ES were provided with one unit each of the Starbooks.
These schools join the other two Starbooks-equipped schools in Pasil – Pasil National High School and PasilCentral School.
At present, there are already 341 units of Starbooks deployed in the Cordillera; 41 of which were deployed in of Kalinga.
Science Research Specialist II Karl Ian Martinez and Dejoia Lee Andres, Starbooks staff, spearheaded the deployment including the conduct of the users training and orientation which was participated by five faculty staff from the schools.
S&T coordinator for Pasil, Engr. Marife A. Bintocan was also present during the activity.
Participants were oriented on how to use the kiosks, the mandate and the concept behind the Philippines’ first S&T digital library in a box, and DOST’s scholarship programs.
Subsequently, hands-on training was conducted to capacitate the teachers, particularly in the registration of users and generation of reports.
In areas where access to books and Internet connectivity is limited, Starbooks, as one of the many inventive technologies of DOST, aims to provide students and teachers, with a better learning and teaching experience.
Since then, quality education has always been one of the goals of the agency, strategically channeled through its different effective projects and programs focused in the advancement of science, technology, and innovation literacy in the countryside, especially those situated in the GIDA.
With the tagline, “Your access to a wealth of science and technology information right at your fingertips”, the platform will empower every Juan with access to modern, interactive, and dynamic resources in just a click. – Press release
April 25, 2024
