By Lyka Manalo
LIPA CITY, Batangas— The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has inaugurated the country’s pilot of its 21st Century Learning Environment Model (CLEM) Classroom in Inosloban-Marawoy Integrated National High School here, Monday.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones, DOST Undersecretary Brenda Nazareth Manzano, Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, Lipa City Congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto, Lipa City Vice Mayor Eric Africa and other national and local officials.
(photo courtesy of DOST-Philippines/ Facebook/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The CLEM project is being implemented by the DOST with the support of DepEd and provincial government which aimed to support K to 12’s curriculum through being a modern avenue that will create learning practices, human support, and physical environment to facilitate the development of the 21st-century skills of both teachers and learners.
There are five public schools in Lipa City equipped with a 21st CLEM classroom including Lipa City National Science High School, Bolbok National High School, Pinagtongulan National High School and San Celestino National High School which are chosen based on their current student population and accessibility to other schools, among other factors.
Each school has received 26 laptops, one interactive projector and smartboard, one 3D printer, one wireless ink-tank system printer, one smart television, one visualizer/ document camera and wireless connectivity.
Teachers from these schools have attended several modules designed for 21st Century CLEM teaching while students have undergone seminar-trainings to introduce them the modern equipment and knowledge.
They also have attended training in Basic Robotics and Learning to Code and Improving Competitiveness among others which according to Secretary Briones is a big challenge to every Filipino.
“The challenge for us is to go beyond the robots that we are building now, but build robots which will make life easier which will eliminate the opportunities for corruption on the part of government, robots which will make our homes livable so we moved from toys to practical solution to everyday problems and I know that we Filipinos are perfectly capable in doing that with the help of various agencies” Briones said in her speech.
She reiterated to balance science and technology with the culture, language and history.
The program of Lipa City’s ‘Taking on the Challenge of the 21st Century also featured the ceremonial energization and internet powering through Pipol Konek and groundbreaking of Senator Claro M. Recto Event Center in this city.