Digital classes for kids with cancer

BRIEFING. DICT Mindanao Cluster 3 Director Alimbzar P. Asum discusses the Tech4Ed Project during the inauguration of the Tech4Ed Center at the House of Hope. HOUSE OF HOPE PHOTO
BRIEFING. DICT Mindanao Cluster 3 Director Alimbzar P. Asum discusses the Tech4Ed Project during the inauguration of the Tech4Ed Center at the House of Hope. HOUSE OF HOPE PHOTO

THE classes run by Dumanlas Elementary School at the House of Hope for children with cancer undergoing treatment at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City are all set to go digital with the holding of training for Tech4Ed basic center management last July 29, 2022.

With the opening of face-to-face classes in public schools on August 24, children at House of Hope, the halfway house for children undergoing cancer treatment at SPMC, will no longer be working with modules as has been the norm for public education in the past two years. They are returning to their classrooms, which they did before the Covid-19 pandemic, but this time, in a digital classroom.

“From manual lectures that is usually done before it will be done with the new technology, thus, Tech4Ed will also provide upskilling programs and teaching the kids basic digital knowledge and computer usage to keep them updated with the new technology,” said SPMC administrative assistant Jose Bernardo D. Tengson, who has been designated as the Tech4Ed program manager for House of Hope.

The digital classroom is a partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) under its tech4Ed Project. As defined, “The Technology Empowerment for Education, Employment, Entrepreneurs, and Economic Development (Tech4ED) is a national digital inclusion initiative establishing eCenters that provide critical e-government and ICT-enabled services in communities with minimal or no access to information and government services.”

For House of Hope, DICT’s Engr. Albert C. Gabriel explained, “The main purpose is to give ICT services to children enrolled for schooling but because of cancer, will have to leave school, their communities. Tech4Ed provides the equipment for them to continue.” Gabriel is the focal person for this project.

But more than just a digital classroom, the House of Hope hosts SPMC’s Tech4Ed Center, a self-sustaining, shared facility providing access to ICT-enabled services and relevant content.

Aside from providing the equipment and connectivity, DICT will also be providing whatever training House of Hope may require for its staff and clients.This could be to train the manpower who will run the center, for digital literacy training of the children and their guardians, or whatever House of Hope may need in terms of technical assistance. What trainings House of Hope may need to equip those who will be running the center and sustain its operations will be provided by the DICT, Engr. Gabriel said.

“Aside from the students, we are also targeting the parents of these kids and give them basic computer knowledge as well,” Tecson said, to allow them greater connectivity to care for their children.

“In a survey that we did with parents of these kids most of them would really want to know how to use a computer to equip them with the knowledge of how to transact with other government agencies like Philhealth, SSS, etc. considering most of the government agencies are already in the digital platform,” he added.

Equipment set in place were 20 desktop computers, 20 tablets, a Smart Television, Interactive Projector, and an audio system. Present during the center’s launching last March were the Undersecretary of the Department of Health, Dr. Leopoldo J. Vega, the Medical Center Chief II of Southern Philippines Medical Center, Dr. Ricardo B. Audan, the Chief of the Medical Professional Staff of Southern Philippines Medical Center, Dr. Fitzgerald Arancel, MD, FPCA, FPSGS, MDM the Program Director of House of Hope Foundation for Kids with Cancer, Inc., Dr. Mae Dolendo, the DICT Region 11, Regional Director, Alimbzar P. Asum, MPA, J.D., CESO V, Assistant Regional Director, Engr. Erlito Tancontian, OIC-Chief of Technical Operations Division, Engr. Eduardo Tuquib, and Tech4ED Focal, Engr. Albert Gabriel.

The House of Hope has been providing the children a venue to continue their schooling since the University of Southeastern Philippines through its former Director for Special Projects Edna Jalotjot, now retired, initiated USEP’s School in the Hospital Project manned by its Education students. The Department of Education took notice of the initiative and in 2017 established the Dumanlas Elementary School SPMC Campus. For secondary education, HOH annually signs a memorandum of agreement with public high schools willing to take on the additional load. Last year it was with the Davao City National High School.

“We are very fortunate and pleased to be chosen as a pilot area for the Tech4ed project by DICT. It is certainly a landmark initiative that provides resources for our parents and some of our patients. Tech4ed can be an avenue for learners to acquire new skills whether for business or personal development. We hope that it provides more opportunities that will empower our families staying at House of Hope," said Dr. Mae Concepcion J. Dolendo, the SPMC Children Cancer Institute Director.

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