DOST, ASU Equip Aklan Schools With Science Learning Tools

Madalsg, Aklan -The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Aklan, together with the Aklan State University (ASU) recently turned over advanced learning tools for science, mathematics, and research to Maria Cristina Integrated School and Medina Integrated School in Madalag, Aklan.

The initiative is part of the “Empowering Akeanon-Bukidnon Communities through Science and Technology (EAST) Initiatives” Project implemented by ASU through DOST’s Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) Program. The project targets the priority needs of the Akeanon-Bukidnon indigenous communities in Barangays Medina and Maria Cristina in Madalag, Aklan.

Recognizing the challenge of limited connectivity and resources in the Akeanon-Bukidnon communities, with the EAST Initiatives, learning tools were deployed including the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosks (STARBOOKS), DOST Courseware for Grades 1-8, and MAKEroscope.

STARBOOKS is a DOST-developed offline digital library that contains a wide range of science and technology (S&T) resources in text, audio, and video formats, giving students and teachers access to learning materials even without an internet connection.

Complementing this is the DOST Courseware, a stand-alone interactive application and self-learning material for Science and Mathematics, designed to enhance classroom instruction. The schools also received the MAKEroscope, a portable and affordable alternative to a light compound microscope, enabling science exploration even with limited resources.

This intervention comes at a critical time for Philippine education. According to the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 15-year-old Filipino learners score below average in science and mathematics. Only 16% of students attained the minimum proficiency level in mathematics, compared to the 69% average among OECD countries. Similarly, only 23% met the basic proficiency in science, compared to the OECD average of 76%.

By bringing these tools directly to the Akeanon-Bukidnon learners, DOST and ASU hope to bridge learning gaps in science and mathematics, promote inclusive access to science and technology, and foster critical thinking and STEM capabilities among students. (VMMPoncedeLeon, MDVillanueva/ DOST Aklan; Photos by: MDVillanueva/ DOST Aklan)

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 (𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛) 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴, 𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚&𝘛 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵—𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰.

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