Masteral degree in sight for Smart mentors

MANILA, Philippines - Twelve public high school teachers recently defended their thesis as required to complete the Smart Mentors program of Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) and earn a Master of Arts degree in Instructional Design and Technology.

The teachers form part of the second batch of 25 scholars under the Smart Mentors Program. The rest are scheduled to undergo their thesis defense within the month.

Envisioned to develop teachers of the “NET” generation, the Smart Mentors program is part of the training component of the Smart Schools Program (SSP), SMART’s flagship community service initiative that aims to uplift the standard of public education in the country through the effective integration of Information Communications Technology (ICT) in the classroom.

“We are happy at the progress that you have made so far. The thesis defense signals an end in terms of completing the requirements of the program, but as far as SMART is concerned, this is just the beginning. The real test of whether the program works is how you apply the knowledge that you have acquired to make learning more exciting for your students,” Public Affairs Group head Ramon Isberto told the teacher-scholars as he formally opened the thesis defense.

University of Makati (UMak) Executive Vice President Dr. Edita Chan, who chaired the thesis panel, thanked SMART for giving public school teachers, especially those in the provinces, a chance to improve their professional qualifications and develop their potential.

The course is designed to equip teachers with knowledge and skills to integrate ICT in basic teaching methods. During the course, each teacher-scholar will begin mentoring 15 teachers within and outside his school and division. Because of its mentoring component, Smart Mentors will benefit even more teachers, especially those who have yet to use ICT in the classroom.

Those who passed the screening process this year include six teachers from Mindanao, six from Visayas, four from South Luzon and nine from North Luzon. Now on its second-year run, Smart Mentors is implemented through the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and supported by the Department of Education.