A total of 450 elementary teachers from all over the country are undergoing free online training in an attempt to directly improve mathematics and science in the Philippines.
Dubbed "E-training for Science and Mathematics Teachers," the teachers take up a free online training designed to upgrade the competence and build the confidence of public and private science and mathematics teachers in the elementary and secondary level.
The present number of teachers undertaking the training is an 8 percent increase from last year's 415 tutors coming from various parts of the country.
In this year's roster, Mindanao tops the number of teacher-trainees with 218 coming from this island group, followed by 194 from Luzon and 38 from Visayas.
Schools providing the online training include St. Louis University, Mariano Marcos State University, St. Mary's University, Central Luzon State University, Bicol University, West Visayas State University, University of San Carlos, Western Mindanao State University, Xavier University, Ateneo de Davao University, Notre Dame of Marbel University, and Mindanao State University.
Dr. Ester B. Ogena, Director of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute, said the e-training program is one of the agency's initiatives to address the declining performance in science and mathematics in the country.
"We are hopeful that through this program we could uplift the quality of science and mathematics education of our students by upgrading the capabilities of our teachers," she said.
Ogena said that aside from the occasional but scheduled face-to-face training sessions, most of the lessons and learnings will be delivered by the e-training institutions to the teacher-trainees through the Internet.
"The teacher-trainees are less disrupted since they are studying in the comforts of their homes," she said.
Ogena said a package of privileges are given to participants of the e-training including waived training fee of P6,000 for the duration of the training and free training materials, Internet allowance of P500 per month for 10 months, round trip travel expenses during the orientation sessions or midterm and final examinations, and 50% of the cost of the PC ng Bayan at P7,600 if the participant decides to purchase a computer from the Department of Budget and Management.
She said teachers who undergo the training are non-science and mathematics majors but are actually teaching these subjects either in public or private schools, have basic computer and Internet skills, willing to learn online, have reliable access to the internet, have not attended any teacher training at the Regional Science Teaching Center (RSTC), and be willing to sign a scholarship contract with the DOST-SEI.
Ogena added that the University of Santo Tomas hosts the website and provides the system maintenance of the Blackboard Academic Suite, a comprehensive online engagement and assessment solution used by the teachers and their trainers for their virtual classroom.
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