Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Village high school goes online
POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato -- US Ambassador Kristie Kenney personally turned over Friday a modern computer laboratory package to the Nicolas Barreras National High School (NBNHS) in Barangay Glamang.
The donation is part of the US government-funded computer literacy program for communities in Mindanao in line with the continuing Computer Literacy and Internet Connection (CLIC) program of the US Agency for International Development (Usaid)-funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) program.
"These computers are your access to the world. Here's your chance to see the rest of the Philippines and the world through these computers," Kenney said during the simple turnover rites.
Kenney, who is on her first visit to the area, was accompanied by Usaid-Philippines deputy mission director Frank Donovan and economic growth advisor Robert Barnes.
The CLIC package, which is worth P327,000, is mainly composed of a wireless broadband Internet connection, seven computers, a printer, books on computers and the Internet, 150 e-books and Microsoft (MS) Office Program Suite.
The program also provided MS Office specialist for selected teachers as well as training in computer and Internet maintenance, troubleshooting and repair for the school's information technology coordinator.
The computer laboratory, which is one of the 11 packages provided by the program in South Cotabato, was delivered on August 28 last year. The installation was only completed last January.
Kenney urged the 416 students of the high school to make use of the computers "to learn more about the Philippines, learn what makes it special and to go beyond and look at the rest of the world."
"I first learned about the Philippines from an Internet. Now that I am here, it's even better. This is a wonderful and blessed country," she said.
She said the US government will never hesitate to provide such kind of help to the Philippines stressing the "American people are very proud to be your partner."
"There's nothing that inspires us more than seeing wonderful children like you. You are the future of this country, you are the people that we count on to make the Philippines as prosperous, as peaceful and exciting as it should be," Kenney added.
The Ambassador later spent some time for an interaction with selected students at the computer laboratory and the turnover of more computer-related reference materials.
She then proceeded to nearby General Santos City for a luncheon meeting with the business sector and local government officials from South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos.
Ruth Estacio, school principal, said the school was able to launch computer classes this year because of the CLIC package.
"It's a big help to everyone here in our school. Both our students and the 16 teachers are starting to have basic knowledge abut computer operations and the Internet," she said.
Mayor Isidro Lumayag expressed gratefulness for the "blessing" from the US government for the school and the entire community.
"This will help us produce globally competitive students and well-equipped future leaders of our communities,' Lumayag said.
For Bisaya stories from General Santos.Click here. (This section is updated every Monday)
(September 25, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
