Promoting Computer Literacy Among Student Essay

A. TITLE OF THE POLICY PAPER

Promoting Computer Literacy among Student in Lanao Del Sur

B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Through scientific and technological progress, the world has become a single global community. Modern means of telecommunication and transportation have fostered the rapid sharing of information, ideas and resources among the nations of the world. This is the challenge that faces Philippine society today – to become part of the global technological community. BELLAFLOR J. ANGARA-CASTILLO

(The problem is focused on the low Computer Literacy among students in Lanao Del Sur)

Living in the information Age; in this fast-paced era of globalization, computer literacy has been a necessary skill everyone must possess along with Arithmetic and Reading.

It is in fact expected among students and workers in different institutions to be computer literate. The studies have revealed that many Meranaos and Non-Meranaos living in Lanao Del Sur are behind in Computer Literacy. In fact, many students in Lanao Del Sur are not even par with thosestudents in Luzon and urban areas.

Survey on Internet Access and Use by Filipino SchoolchildrenFinal Report (Summary nationwide Findings)explain the reason why some Filipino Schoolchildren are not using internet.

Reasons for not using the Internet centered mainly on the absence of Internetconnection at home/school (61%) and computer illiteracy (51%). Lack of Internetconnection at home may be due to economic reasons as well asparents’ low educational background, since 83 percent of the non-users arepublic school students.The high level of computer illiteracy should be a priority concern since“competitiveness” and “survival” of children in today’s Knowledge Society is toa great extent dependent on digital literacy. Computer classes are notavailable in public elementary schools compared with private schools.

Filipino schoolchildren are computer literate as almost three-fourths (74%)have access to the Internet. But schoolchildren in the Visayas and MetroManila have greater access than their counterparts in the Cordilleras andMindanao as approximately 9 out of 10 schoolchildren in these areas areInternet users.

Schoolchildren from lower grades, i.e. elementary than high school students,have lesser access to Internet. Several reasons can be cited: while theDepartment of Education (DepED) has a program which provides computerpackages to public high schools, this is not available to public elementaryschools; elementary pupils are less mobile than older children, e.g. going tomalls; parents have more control on their activities and whereabouts, etc.

Majority (51%) of schoolchildren reported “not knowing how to use thecomputer” as reason for not using the Internet, it is important that computerliteracy should now be included in the school curriculum especially in publicschools where computer illiteracy is more pronounced.

(This survey shows that the people of Mindanao iss behind incomputer literacy compare to the people of Luzon and Visayas) This is an alarming issue since while other countries are devising robots already, our citizens (Filipinos) have not even explored much about computers or worse some have not even tried using it once. With the situation all the more the Philippines cannot compete with other countries. Computer Literacy is an important asset that every citizen should have. These canhelp in contributing to the workforce and equipping oneself with the information essential for ones’ development both personally and professionally.

While other countries are on the milestone of invention and innovation, if this problem on poor computer literacy among students in Lanao Del Sur be unresolved, we will always be left behind still groping in trying how such innovation works. While they are already benefitting much to it, we are just about in the process of learning it. To gain a skill in Computer literacy is just but gaining access in the intricate system of technology melded by great minds that could pave the way for our development.

2. Causesand background of the problem
Factors that lead to the development of the said problem are:

First, school computers are not enough for the student.
Some schools do have computers but this is not enough to accommodate every students. Sometimes only the students in first section are the one who are benefited in using computer.

Second, the capability of teachers who teach computer subject. For those schools do have computer class the problem is the teachers do not have the quality to teach computer literacy because they don’t have any good background how to use the computer system properly.

Third schools don’t have enough funds to buy computers equipment for their student.
Schools especially in the remote areas don’t have enough budget or no budget at all to buy computer equipment for their students.

3. Undesirable social conditions that result from the problem. 1. The numbers of student who are illiterate in using computer will increase. Students of Lanao Del Sur who are computer illiterate will increase they become ignorant in using Information Technology (IT).

2. The student will not benefit of what technology brought to us. While other students of Luzon and Visayas are already benefited much to it, the students of Lanao Del Sur are just about in learning it. .

3. It will destroy the image of quality of education in our society. The quality of education in Lanao Del Sur will become low, because while students using the information technology our students still attached to the old technique of teaching education.

When we say basic computer literacy we mean how to turn off/on the computer properly, how to use basic computer program such as, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel and how to make e-mail account and send e-mail account.

Computer literacy should be include in school curricula at early level in Grade school grade six and seven. In highs cool computer literacy to introduce to the student in year level 3rd and 4th year for them to master basic computer program.

C. REVIEWS ON PREVIOUS EFFORT ON THE PROBLEM

The Philippines Constitution 1987 has mandated “ARTICLE II Declaration of Principles & State Policies” and ARTICLE XIV Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports,says that the state shall give priority to Education, Promote and Protect the right of all students to quality education to all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education to all.

There are some proposed House Bills and Senate Bill aim to promote technical and scientific literacy in computer education among the Filipino Youth. House Bill No. 880

AN ACT TO INTEGRATE COMPUTER EDUCATION INTO THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY CURRICULUM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR House Bill No. 2096

AN ACT CREATING SPECIAL COMPUTER LITERACY EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

House Bill No. 447

AN ACT TO INTEGRATE COMPUTER EDUCATION INTO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Senate Bill No. 1118 AN ACTTO INTEGRATE A COMPUTER EDUCATION PROGRAMINTO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

All of these proposed bills say that it is the priority of a state to promote and support computer literacy at the earliest grade level both in the Public and Private schools system of the country. The state shall provide for an educational computer program integrated in the existing elementary and secondary school curricula.

However, as observed, this not fully implemented. Perhaps, it was on the ground of lack of funds.“The main cause of this is the lack of funds.” Textbooks and school infrastructure alone are not much priority which themselves are not also resolved.

To some schools blessed with few computers, the students cannot even learn from it since they were not given hands-on activities for them. Even if for some schools that have computer subjects in their school curriculum, the manner of instruction is not good enough. It was due to the fact that the school curriculum is not fully implemented. The subject exists but the classes for it are not executed. In some cases where there is computer class, the problem is on the teachers who themselves are computer illiterate. That is because they were product of traditional curriculum and weren’t provided with proper training for computer instruction. This again implies that a funding should also be allotted for training teachers who will handle computer subjects especially for those living in remote areas.

Capability Building for Teachers

School teachers also need training in media and information literacy. This willequip them with skills needed in making their students critical mediaproducers and consumers and at the same time provide teacherscompetencies in using media as teaching-learning tools. UNESCO hasproduced a model curriculum on Media and Information Literacy forSecondary School Teachers which can be adapted in local setting.

The Internet has emerged as an important teaching-learning tool as learnersbetter appreciate the learning process when it is mediated. Teachers shouldbe provided with professional development opportunities to help them modeleffective use of the Internet as a tool for students’ learning, includingintegrating Internet learning with regular classroom learning.Schools should encourage blogging among students since it enhancescreativity and writing skills.

The Education Sector (Department of Education, Public and PrivateSchools)

Computer Facilities in All Schools

While we recognize that even basic needs are still wanting in many public elementary and high schools, there is a need to address the digital dividebetween public and private schools. Still, many private schools in theregions also lack computer facilities. The Department of Education andother government agencies should come up with more “innovative”approaches in mobilizing resources for investing in computer acquisition.Some proposals have already been forwarded recently, e.g. tax on textingthe revenue to be used in acquiring computers for all public schoolsnationwide. Computer acquisition should be complemented by Internetconnectivity.

With this seen problem, some NGO’s extended a helping hand.The USAID GEM-CLIC for instance together with its external links such as the (STEP-UP) Stop Trafficking and Exploitation of People Through Unlimited Potential), and the Microsoft Potential from US conducted Computer and Life Skills Training among youth especially for those out of school youth and vulnerable groups such as victims of human trafficking. Their goal is to provide Computer and Life Skills Training to equip Filipinos with these skills they can use for livelihood here instead of going abroad; thus to prevent being a victim of human trafficking. This project was launched in November 2009 in Patani Marawi City and has indeed produced batch of computer literate youth out of school and some adults.

D. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE POLICY PAPER

Computer Literacy is an asset for a society transforming and adapting tothe globalization trend. In this Information Age, where there’s an explosion of knowledge, grasping it can be possible with just the tip of your finger. Thus computer literacy is a big advantage among students and workforce. In fact, nowadays, computer literacy is always a big qualification searched for an applicant. Because whatever institutions are utilizing computers. The students and the workforce; whether teachers, clerks, staff from smallest to biggest business establishment and even in government institution will benefit from this trend provided they are computer literate.

E. OBJECTIVE OF THE POLICY PROPOSAL

General Objective

This proposed policy aims to promote literacy in computer education among the students in Lanao Del Sur. This seeks to integrate basic computer education into school curriculum; this proposed policy also mandates sufficient funding for the program.

Specific Objectives

* Toask the government to provide funds for this project. * To urge the school administrator to a curriculum integrating computer class. * To have a strict implementation of computer literacy instructor among schools whereby an assessment on should be given to students to keep track of their development and to monitor as well as the conducting of computer class both by the DepEd and local government.

F. STRATEGIES AND PROCEDURE ON HOW TO START THE POLICY MOVE

1. Inform Mrs. SafinaMacabando-BacaratthePrincipal of Marinaut Elementary School she is also concern with Computer Literacy. To check for any additional information or review of this proposed policy paper. 2. Inform Mrs. JalilaMacabando-Dimal a sister of Principal SafinaMacabando-Bacarat who is a Supervisor in East District to support this proposed policyand tell her co-Supervisors that they a need to pay attention to the problem of Computer Literacy in among students inLanao Del Sur. 3. Send a letter for an appointment with the head of local offices such as Department of Education (DepEd) in Lanao Del sur. Give them a copy of this proposed policy.

Mrs. JalilaMacabando-Dimal would be able to convince Mrs.Mona A. MacatanongMarawi Superintendent and the DepEd since she is the supervisor of the East District. Discuss the problem about computer literacy among the students in L.D.S , to have strict impelentation in Computer education and inform every school who that their permit to operate a school will remove if they will not cooperate. 4. Connect with the NGO’ssuch as USAID together STEP-UP Stop Trafficking and Exploitations of People through Unlimited Potential and the Microsoft Potential from US conducted Computer and Life Skill Training.

5. Send a letter for an appointment with the Regional DepEdSecretary JamarKulayan, Mrs. JalilaMacabando-Dimal through Mona A. Macatanong if there’s an increase of literacy in computer education. 6. Meeting with the DepEd Secretary, Supervisors and Principals of different provinces in Lanao Del Sur and the NGOs to provide a real plan and a system in meeting the demands in providing more computers and increase of literacy in computer education. 7. Secure a copy as reference or review of this proposed policy paper in the congress.

You may also be interested in the following: promoting philippines