Smart program improves learning ability of CdO pupils

MANILA, Philippines - Public elementary school students in Cagayan de Oro City showed progress in class and an improved attitude towards learning following the first year of implementation of CommuniTeach, an education program initiated by Smart Communications, Inc., which aims to improve learning among school children considered below average in academic performance.

Grades 1 to 3 students from three CommuniTeach beneficiary schools in CdO – Camaman-an Elementary School, Consolacion Elementary School and Upper Carmen Elementary School — are the target beneficiaries of CommuniTeach.

Every Saturday, for the entire school year 2010-2011, the selected students belonging to the bottom percentile of their respective grade levels attended learning sessions held in their respective schools.

The module on Values Formation was conducted by a team of six student-volunteers from Xavier University per group of 20 students. In CdO a total of 120 students (40 from each school) have been recommended for the CommuniTeach Program. 

One of the students is Daryl Jose Acain, a second grader at Upper Carmen ES. Through endless exercises, he was able to improve his writing skills. Once lacking in focus and easily distracted during sessions, Daryl developed the ability to concentrate on topics that he does not understand, taking the challenge as a motivation to learn more.

The progress of Junryl Caesar Macariñas, a grade 2 student at Consolacion ES, is a fine example of how a positive change in behavior can lead to improved academic standing. He was the type who would rather play and run around the classroom than listen to the teacher. But after successive sessions on character formation, Junryl became more participative in class discussions and diligent in submitting assignments. By the fourth quarter period, his grades in all subjects were in the 80s bracket.

Another success story is Normarie de Guzman. The second grade student from Camaman-an ES was painfully shy and would stay in a corner. Once the CommuniTeach Program got going, Normarie started to participate more actively. She became more cheerful and friendly. Her new confidence helped her excel academically in school. She now mingles with her classmates and asks questions about given tasks in class.

“The CommuniTeach Program greatly helped our pupils augment their academic performance and character formation,” says Amorita Barrientos, NSTP Coordinator for Consolacion ES. “Most of the pupils have increased their grades and are no longer shy and even volunteer to lead in class activities like praying and singing of songs.”

As it helps in the overall improvement in the learning of academically-challenged students, CommuniTeach also offers a solution to the problem of rising dropout rates in elementary levels in the country. It also assists in other areas through funding, donation of school supplies, cleaning classrooms, and even cooking and serving snacks for the student beneficiaries.

It involves communities in the mentoring of their children. Aside from the DepEd, these include local government units, private businesses, the local college or university, parents of the student beneficiaries and local school teachers, among others.