Tuesday, July 17, 2007 1st Smart Schools Jr. partner is in Pampanga By Raymond C. Garcia
APALIT -- The first ever Smart Schools Jr. partner is in Pampanga.
On Saturday, Smart launched its first elementary school partner, the Jose Escaler Memorial School (Jems) here, with Smart Communications top honcho Manny Pangilinan gracing the affair.
Jems, established in the late 1920s as the first central school in this town, was named after the first Filipino assistant director of education, Jose Escaler.
The school has made another "first" in its eight-decade history by becoming the first partner school under the newly launched Smart Schools Junior Program.
Realizing the importance of exposing students to the benefits of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) at the earliest stage of learning, Smart extended its efforts for its flagship community project Smart Schools program to benefit grade schoolers as well.
Jems's formal inauguration into the program was marked by the turnover of the Smart Teacher Learning Resources Center (TLRC) led by Pangilinan whose grandfather Benito and father Dominador came from this town.
Darwin Flores, senior manager of Community Partnership and Public Affairs Group, said housed within the school's Smart TLRC are networked computers with wireless Internet connection powered by Smart Bro, Smart's wireless broadband service of Smart's subsidiary and Smart Broadband Incorporated.
"The Smart Schools Program has given birth to the 'big brother' initiative wherein Sweep faculty are trained on networking and other ICT projects, which they echo either through trainings involving Smart Schools teachers or actual networking of the computers in the labs of Smart Schools programs partners," he said.
Present during the inauguration were Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio, Apalit Mayor Jun Tetangco, Vice Mayor Peter Nucum and some municipal councilors.
School principal Gertrudes Marucut said the project will mean more learning facilities for the students as well as for the teachers. She said she is also very grateful to the whole staff of Smart communications and the Apalit Municipal Government.
Meanwhile, Tetangco said this is a sign of good partnership with people outside this town since projects keep coming in for his constituents at the early stages of his leadership.
Flores also said as part of the package, the school received additional two computer units and other peripherals, including webcams, scanner and a printer.
"An additional four computers have also been donated by Mr. Panglinan and are connected via PLDT my DSL. Both connections are free for one year," he said.
Aside from the Internet access, Smart will also be providing trainings for teachers, ICT integration in the classroom, basic troubleshooting and maintenance.
"Being a Smart Schools Junior, the first one at that is a great privilege. It is a great gift to the school," Marucut said.
Although retiring from her post in September, Marucut is confident she will be leaving the school in good hands.
