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The RC of Cebu, in partnership with Smart Telecom, is planning a GG of US$60,000 aimed at raising the scholastic standards of far rural public schools (K-12). Normally, public schools lag behind their private school counterparts, but rural provincial public schools lag behind the urban-located public school counterparts as well. In 2015, a pilot public elementary school located in the hinterland of nearby Bohol province had its students perform near the private school scholastic levels within a year of usage. According to the research of Smart Telecom, there are 3,000 public schools in the Philippines that are located outside the electric grid. Additionally, the public school system is generally lacking in teaching materials and textbooks.
The Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu Province Schools Superintendent identified 18 schools outside the electric grid and another 30 schools in the far hinterlands of Cebu (defined as requiring 3 hours of travel to the provincial capital) that could benefit from this program. Note that Cebu province is an island only 300 kilometers long and 30 kilometers wide, with the capital that has an east central location.
The SB Project consists of providing one (1) kit per school, costing US$2,000 each (30 sets for this GG) that includes a solar panel, a computer and printer, five (5) tablets, educational software that includes teaching guides for K-12, student worksheets, student handouts (think textbooks printed in sections or chapters in the school), a mobile telephone, and teacher training (one teacher for a week-long training per school). Monthly updates to the proprietary software can be achieved by downloading updates via the mobile telecom. Teachers can then prepare their teaching plans, print worksheets and textbook handouts, even if they are located outside the electric grid.
Public schools normally have between 25-45 students per section, so a public elementary school with only one section (K-6), each SB kit can benefit 175-315 students, or an effective cost of only $6.35 to $11.43 per student. The cost benefit, however, is potentially very high, as we foresee a quick raising of the school's overall academic standards.
Once the grant is funded, the distribution of the 30 SB kits can be accomplished within 3 months, as these schools have already been identified. Teacher training will take only one (1) week, but is done in quarterly batches.
The local club members will be involved in the physical distribution and periodic follow-up of progress at the school level.
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