CAMIGUIN Island - The provincial division of the Department of Education (DepEd) here recently conducted a three-day Learning Congress.

The Congress aims to provide learning experiences to students and teachers in different subject areas.

Miss Elena M. Borcillo, schools division superintendent officer-in-charge, said they are required every semestral break to conduct in-service training for teachers but this year, they have revolutionized it by conducting it outside the classrooms through the Learning Congress, which was conducted from October 28 to 30 at the Mambajao Central School.

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"This is one way of having the learning concept that is not confined within the four walls of the classrooms," Borcillo said.

The Learning Congress aims to equip teachers with skills needed in improving their competence in the teaching-learning process and hopes to enhance students' learning through the different interactive and innovative experiences of the subject area.

The Congress also hopes to promote peace through education and strengthens the involvement of stakeholders in improving learning outcomes.

At least 11 learning hubs were available in the Congress for primary and secondary students, teachers and employees of local government units, which included Math, Science, English, Alternative Learning System (ALS), music, Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) for secondary students and Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP) for primary students, among others.

All those who visited the hubs were given activity cards and were not allowed to leave the hub unless all the activities were completed. They were given certificates of participation at the end of the three-day congress.

"Students and teachers who visited the hubs were taught on sign language, the correct way of singing the pambansang awit, had a make over and foot spa for free, attended sessions on bonsai-making or making tea out of malunggay, they were taught entrepreneurial skills and how to fold the flag correctly, among other activities. There was also a hub were values formation was emphasized. Some DepEd divisions call it Peace Congress but for us, it's a Learning Congress," Borcillo said.

More than 1,000 LGU employees, students and teachers from 12 secondary and 61 primary schools in Camiguin participated in the Congress.

Vanessa Gail Lumacang, a second year student of Camiguin National High School, said she had fun doing all the activities in each hub. She was with her friends Dianne Eudz Dadula, Shaira Sharmaine Cabrera and Ervil Bedro, who also came from the same school.

"We learned many things in the Congress, like how to make malunggay tea. The activities we had were very educational," Lumacang said.

Dianne Mae Abian, a third year high school student, also said she gained additional knowledge in the Congress.

"I was born and raised in Camiguin but it's only now I learned that the province's capital town is Mambajao," Abian said.

Selected students also provided music through a live band, which Miss Borcillo said is one important activity to attract the youth to be in school.

Based on surveys, she said the province's dropout rate is around four percent for school year 2008 to 2009 school year.

"That's why we have this program as intervention, to keep the youth in school. During the opening of the congress, Governor JJ Romualdo turned over musical instruments to the schools. This initiative is aimed at taking the children away from drugs by enticing them to give time to music," she said.

With the success of the Congress, Borcillo said they hope to make it a yearly activity probably in time for the Lanzones Festival.

This, she said, is to prove that learning is fun and is not just confined to the four walls of the classroom.