Monday, July 21, 2008 Mendoza: Changing focus, hoping for best By Lorenzo E. Mendoza The Scribe's Corner
DIRECTOR'S Cut: (This portion features the thoughts of DepEd 11 Regional Director Susana Teresa B. Estigoy for all stakeholders and recipients of efforts to improve basic education.)
"We hope to finally give a face to every child in school for we know every child has his needs, has his own individual uniqueness, has his own dreams...and we cannot allow economic deprivation as a reason for him to fail in achieving these, for when he fails, we also fail in our task. We have to see them as graduates in the years to come -- products of our efforts to uphold and live true to our battle cry: Ituloy ang Karunungan, Labanan ang Kahirapan!"
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In a determined effort to improve the learners' improvement, DepEd 11 Regional Director Susana Teresa B. Estigoy urges the regional personnel to focus on their main task--monitoring and advisory role--specifically within the month of July and August.
The main activities the supervisors are expected to do under the close collaboration of the chiefs of the elementary and secondary education divisions are: conduct of in-house workshops for their staff or with their division-level counterparts and the capability-building activities for supervisors in the region and division in conducting clinical supervision and undertaking and utilizing results of needs assessment and needs analysis of the DepEd personnel in the performance of their functions.
The in-house workshops shall include preparation of individual action plans to improve learners performance for SY 2008-2009, preparation of the on-the-spot NAT-like tests for their subject areas targeted at low performing schools throughout the region, preparation and implementation of school visits to sample schools and to have quota to be met, preparation of additional instructional materials and preparation of the checklists to be used by the supervisors during the school visits.
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Nutrition Month (NM) is held every July to focus the public's attention on nutrition along a chosen theme. The National Nutrition Council (NNC) and local government units are mandated to coordinate the celebration of Nutrition Month (Section 7, Presidential Decree No. 491 or Nutrition Act of the Philippines, 25 June 1974).
This year, the country is celebrating the 34th Nutrition Month with the theme "Sa Wastong Nutrisyon ni Mommy, Siguradong Healthy si Baby!" to emphasize the importance of proper health and good nutrition among pregnant and would-be pregnant women for improved nutrition of the baby.
It also stresses the importance of proper nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy for a healthy mother and baby.
Issues to be addressed during this month long celebration are: Importance of good nutrition during pregnancy, Nutrition situation of Filipino pregnant women, Effects of good nutrition on pregnant women, Consequences of poor nutrition among pregnant women, Nutrient needs of pregnant women, Dos and Don'ts during pregnancy.
Considering the importance of this year's celebration, all DepEd division offices and schools are enjoined to undertake activities that would promote nutritional status among women. It should be emphasized however that the nutrition month activities do not disrupt the contact time between the teachers and learners as indicated in DepEd Order number 9, s. 2005.
For more information, please contact: The Health and Nutrition Unit (HNU), DepEd RO 11, F. Torres St., Davao City. Call telephone number (082) 227-9342 or see any of these personnel in the HNU of DepEd 11: Dr. Mariblanca Piatos, head, Dr. Judith Jabonero, and Ms. Nelly Fabia.
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The Department of Education-National Science Teaching Instrumentation Center (Deped-NSTIC) is located at Ecotech Compund, Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City. It started as Philippine-German Cooperation under the Department of Education for Science Teaching Improvement Project (Stip).
On July 22, 1993, Stip was institutionalized as NSTIC by virtue of Executive Order 112 signed by then His Excellency President Fidel V. Ramos, fully operated as such in 1995.
The DepEd-NSTIC was mandated by Executive Order 112 to carry out the following objectives: a) to develop prototypes of science teaching equipment and materials using indigenous or locally available material and technology and adopted to the approved curriculum; b) to develop User's Manuals and Experimentation Modules for science teaching equipment; c) to develop and prescribe standards for science teaching equipment and materials in the country; d) to assist private sector in developing its capability to mass produce the science equipment prototypes developed by the Center; e) to develop and provide training program for science teachers on the effective teaching of science using the instructional equipment and materials developed by the Center as well as those that may be developed by the teachers themselves; f) to undertake quality control of science equipment and materials being provided to the public schools; and g) to develop and implement a system of repair and maintenance of science equipment provided to the public schools.
Last July 14-18, 2008, a 5-day seminar-workshop was conducted at NEAP 11 (formerly RELC 11) and Cursillo House for elementary and secondary school participants respectively. It was managed by Dr. Carmencita R. Omictin and Corazon T. Sabio, education supervisors in Science for secondary and elementary levels, respectively, with Dr. Raul C. La Rosa, NSTIC Director as the main speaker.
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Access DepEd Updates, latest issuances, and other relevant information through http://www.region11.deped.gov.ph. For comments, suggestions and/or contributions, email renzthescribe@yahoo.com or visit http://renzmendoza.multiply.com for photos and other relevant information. For queries, complains and other concerns, call DepEd Region 11 at (082) 227-9342 or fax to (082) 227-1102.
