BEAM-AusAID bolsters Distance Learning Program for ARMM children

Marawi City, LANAO DEL SUR – The regional government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with the support of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) through the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) has strengthened the Distance Learning Program (DLP) in the region as one of the approaches in improving poor access of children to basic education.

The DLP is one of the initiatives of the BEAM Project under its Component 3 – Increasing Access – which seek to grant opportunities for the school age children in the elementary level starting at Grade 3 to Grade 6 from far-flung and poor areas, to have access to formal basic education through the use of independent and self-paced learning modules.

In the pilot stage, two divisions in the ARMM composed of eight elementary schools were the beneficiaries since the program commenced in June of 2009. Schools-recipients under Maguindano Division are Datu Gumbay Piang Elementary School of Datu Piang, Dapiawan Elementary School of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Kalumamis Elementary School of Guindulungan, Pandan Elementary School of South Upi, Malangit Elementary School of Mamasapano and Libutan Elementary School of Datu Saudi Ampatuan. Bobo Elementary School and Piagapo Central Elementary School of Piagapo are the beneficiaries from Lanao del Sur IB Division.

In the turn-over ceremony of BEAM Learning Modules and school supplies recently in Piagapo town here, Angelo Delgado, Project Development Officer in the Education Development Project Implementing Task Force (EDPITAF) of the Department of Education (DepEd), further stress the significance of DLP for school age children.

“The BEAM’s central objective is to address drop-out cases and absenteeism of these children in schools. These happen because these children were living in conflict-affected areas, their residences are distant from schools and some are working in the farms with their parents. Also eligible in the program are those children with physical difficulties or impairments,” Delgado said.

Delgado, as well, made clear the exclusion of Grades 1 and 2 in the DLP. He said that only children from Grade 3 to Grade 6 were recipients of the program as they were already in the “learning to read” stage of development.

“The beneficiaries are already readers because the modules are independent and interactive. Upon enrolment, the teacher conducts reading readiness assessment of students to determine their capacity to read the materials, follow instructions and complete the worksheets,” he said.

More than 500 BEAM Learning Modules is given to every school – five copies per learning area/subject (English, Math, Science, Filipino and Makabayan), per grade level (Grade 3 to Grade 6) and per grading period (1st to 4th Grading). A total of 35,000 modules were already distributed.

Acting Australian Project Director for BEAM, Ramon C. Bobier, senses a big hope in instituting a quality education for the children in the ARMM.

“We can assure our teachers, parents, as well as the children that these BEAM Learning Modules are especially designed to enhance the quality of knowledge and learning of each student. These modules are original masterworks of our own teachers from the DepEd-ARMM. We wanted to live with BEAM’s mission of bringing education closer to where it is needed and when it matters most,” Bobier said.

Moreover, ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan recurrently lauds the efforts of AusAID through BEAM in helping the regional government on its quest for affordable, accessible and quality education to poor students in remote areas in the autonomous region. (BPI-ARMM*)

Newly constructed Multi-Purpose Center

Newly constructed Multi-Purpose Center (Upper Left Photo), one of the 2 units of Latrines (Upper Right Photo) 2 units of Solar Drier (Lower Photo) located at Barangay Samer, in Butig town Lanao del Sur. These projects had been implemented by the ARMM Social Fund Project Management Office (ASFP) under the Community Development Assistance (CDA) component through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-ARMM) funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). (bpi-armm)

ASFP implements various community-based projects in Butig, Lanao del Sur

30 September 2009

ASFP implements various community-based projects in Butig, Lanao del Sur

Butig, Lanao del Sur - Residents of Barangay Samer in this town have had a hard time drying their farm produce and fetching water from a deep well for daily consumption not until two units of solar drier and a potable water system have been constructed by the ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP) early this year funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Projects also like multi-purpose center, two units of latrines and three laundry sheds had been constructed and completed in this barangay as part of the Community Development Assistance (CDA) projects being implemented by the ASFP through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-ARMM).

Samer People’s Organization president Hadji Alawi Amatonding expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the ARMM for pouring in such considerable and significant projects in their area. “These projects particularly the water system and the laundry sheds are of great help to us residents of this barangay especially for our women and mothers,” said Amatonding.

Amatonding organized a consultation meeting with other residents and formed the Samer Organization for Development in order to lobby for projects that would help improve their living condition.

Butig mayor Dimnatang Pansar was also grateful to the Autonomous Regional Government through ARMM Social Fund Project under the leadership of Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan and to the officials of the JICA for supporting such projects for his constituents.

“We are very thankful that we have this multi-purpose center where our people can use for various activities, the solar driers where our farmers can easily dry up their crops, the communal toilets which are situated near the Madrasah (Arabic School) where our students can use while having classes and most of all the potable water system, added mayor Pansar”.

ARMM Social Fund Project Management Office has been implementing social and development projects primarily in the far-flung villages from the six component provinces and one city of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) under the administration of Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan to reduce poverty incidence, improve healthcare services and boost local economy in the region through massive development programs and projects.

The Japanese government has committed a 2.47 Billion Yen worth of various development and community based projects in the region since year 2005 through soft loans by the national government and granted to ARMM to further its development and build peace in the region. (bpi-armm)

Courtesy visit

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan (seated, left) pays a courtesy visit to Senator Loren Legarda (right) and discuss with the lady senator his peace and development initiatives in the region. Legarda is the Chairman of the Senate Sub-Finance Committee which hears the 2010 ARMM Proposed Budget amounting to P9.827 Billion. (BPI-ARMM)

Maguindanao 1st District Congressman Didagen Dilangalen (left) and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan (right) seriously discussing the flooding situation in the province. Ampatuan went to the House of Representatives on September 29, 2009 and defended the 2010 ARMM Proposed Budget amounting to P9.827 Billion. (BPI-ARMM)

Courtesy Call

Tawi-tawi Lone District Congressman Nur G. Jaafar (right) and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan (left), discussing development initiatives in the region. Ampatuan paid a courtesy visit to Jaafar, Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Sub-Committee “F” on Finance and Appropriations who hears the 2010 ARMM Proposed Budget amounting to P9.827 Billion. (BPI-ARMM)