JeepneEd to support in improving Sarangani education

ALABEL, Sarangani (August 24, 2011) – Founders of JeepeEd Project initially clinched agreements on Tuesday (August 23) with local partners to make Sarangani the next pilot for their science project once the jeepney begins rolling in October .

JeepneEd is a mobile science and technology laboratory equipped with netbooks, internet connection, LCD projector, scanner, printer, other instructional materials, and hands-on activities designed to serve a community of eight to 12 schools.

But in Sarangani, Shaina Tantuico, one of JeepneEd founders who is responsible for teaching and curriculum development, said that they initially identified four schools to serve starting Grade 5 up to 2nd year high school.

“Our mission is to provide community-driven, sustainable, in-school support in science and technology on a redesigned jeepney that runs on used vegetable oil,” the founders said.

The JeepneEd also sought to address gaps of science teaching methods in public schools where teachers usually resorted to lectures due to unavailability of resource materials and other exposure activities.

The mobile laboratory will stir students’ interest to discover new things from indigenous materials which Tantuico pointed out these learning activities “can be integrated into (the students’) lessons in schools.”

Tantuico said their aim for the students is to be able to see everyday things in a scientific way like using salt as conductor and rice as insulator and using gumamela petals and mayana leaves to become PH tester for soil, “a chemistry topic in Grade 5 and in 2nd year high school,” she said.

Tantuico said they were able to pattern the science activities in the mobile lab from the science laboratories in California and East Timor only that they made it “more localized in the Philippines.”

“We want this project to go on for as long as possible,” Tantuico said.

The Provincial Government thru QUEST will shoulder the cost for honorarium of driver and two teacher mentors, according to Anne Edday, program manager of QUEST (Quality Education for Sarangani Today). The Alcantara Group of Companies will shoulder the internet connectivity, fuel and other maintaining cost of the JeepneED, she added.

Alabel National Science High School physics teacher Ariel Lalisan said parents can also share counterpart funds for the operation of the JeepneEd or they can also give used vegetable oil as substitute for fuel. (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)