Nine schools in Bataraza, Palawan were recently installed with solar power through the funding support of Coral Bay Nickel Corporations (CBNC).
Schools from the southern part of Bataraza namely, Malitub Elementary School, Guimba Elementary School, Sayab Elementary School, Buliluyan Elementary School, Puring Elementary School, Dudungguan Elementary School, Katipunan Elementary School, Tabud Elementary School and Tagolango Elementary school all received 300 watts solar power this month. The solar power is expected to help the schools in running its radio-based instruction (RBI) and the school’s various printing needs.
“Power is very important to our school since we need to run our RBI and print the self-learning modules which we distribute to each pupil every week. Without it, we cannot deliver the education that our students should get during this time while we are still in the recovery stage from the pandemic,” said Jenny Canja teacher in charge of Tabud Elementary School.Most of the schools in Bataraza are adopting the RBI program. This is one of the alternative learning delivery modalities using radio broadcast to deliver their lessons using the self-learning modules (SLM). As a form of distance learning, RBI is able to expand access to education to learners leaving in the countryside. It aims to provide learning opportunities to listeners as complimentary learning using the SLM in the absence of actual face to face interaction. The learners from rural areas reached by radio frequencies benefit from this type of learning.
Most schools in the southern part of Bataraza are located in off grid areas. Thus, solar power is one of the pressing needs of the school especially during this time that the schools are slowly recovering from the pandemic. The source of electricity in these barangays is either through generator or solar power. “The residents have electricity only if they have generators or solar,” said Ms. Canja.
CBNC makes sure that the education sector is represented during the annual Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) consultation and planning. This in order for the schools to participate and their projects be included in the SDMP plan.
“The head of the schools attend the SDMP consultation and planning. They are the ones who planned the projects and programs in education together with other stakeholders of the schools,” said Ernesto Llacuna, the Community Relations Manager of CBNC. “In all the 22 barangays of Bataraza where we have our SDMP, we made sure that the education sector is represented. Thus, we were able to include their projects for the betterment of their schools,” added Llacuna.
The 9 units of 300 watts solar costs Php 450,000, which fund was sourced from CBNC’s Information, Education & Communication (IEC) fund. Other than this, CBNC already provided solar power in several schools especially during the height of the pandemic where printing of modules has been very crucial.
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