A novel approach to encourage students to adopt to new learning methods under the “new normal” is catching fire in the northern Negros town of Toboso. And it is gaining wide support from townsfolk, including parents.
Mayor Richard Jaojoco, in an interview with NEGROS NOW DAILY, the online edition of Negros Weekly news magazine, said that since the inception of “Modyul Baylo Bugas” program, the local Department of Education and the municipal government also noted a spike in the number of late enrollees.
Under the MBB scheme, learners are encouraged to comply with their module for the week in exchange for a kilo of rice per student after their teacher has corrected their work.
The rice subsidy is being released every Friday or Monday, Edily Agravante Leonardo, public schools district supervisor of Toboso, said.
Jaojoco and Leonardo said the more than 10,000 students currently enrolled in 26 public schools–21 elementary, four junior high, one senior– as well as those in the Kindergarten, Alternative Learning System and Special Education Class and two private institutions–the East Negros Academy and Shalom Christian School– are all beneficiaries of the “Modyul Baylo Bugas” program.
INCLUSIVE SCHEME:
With the program gaining ground, the mayor said they are projecting that the Toboso enrollees may hit the 13,000-mark or beyond.
Leonardo said that enlistment of late enrollees is ongoing as per directive of DepEd central office which has extended it until Nov. 10.
The number of learners comprise more than one-fourth of the town’s total population of more than 42,000 as per last census.
“Every pupil in the family is a beneficiary of the rice subsidy as long as he or she completes the module requirement for the week. Meaning, if a family has six pupils, this also translates to six kilos of rice so long as they are compliant” Leonardo said.
After retrieval of the module and compliance with the activities identified in it, they are given coupons which they present to the representative of the Mayor’s Office stationed in the school in exchange for rice, Jaojoco said.
ONLY IN TOBOSO
To Jaojoco’s knowledge, the MBB program is a pioneering concept that is “Made in Toboso”.
It’s the only one of its kind in the Philippines so far, he told NND and Negros Weekly.
Leonardo recalled that prior to the opening of classes, she had discussed with Jaojoco on the challenges that DepEd expects to encounter under the “new normal”.
The reproduction of modules emerged as the top concern followed by the issue as to how the learners will sustain their interest with their academics, especially those in hinterland areas, she related.
As the exchange went on, it was raised that with the difficult times amid the pandemic, the students and their parents might take the school requirements for granted in favor of meeting their daily food needs. Then the idea surfaced. Through our sharing and with full support of Mayor Jaojoco, the “Modyul” as an Intervention came about, she continued.
SUSTAINABILITY ASSURED AS MBB INSPIRES PARENTS
With the MBB program in full swing, DepEd is assured by the LGU leadership of its sustainability until the situation normalizes.
The local government, she said, has already allocated funds for the program in support of the learners and their families.
DepEd also recently received two risograph machines for the reproduction of modules from the municipal government.
But teachers based in far-flung villages have to make do with their personal printers or units owned by the schools. So their main concerns are ink supplies and bond papers, the DepEd official said.
It is worthy to note that the MBB program for young students is on top of the regular food packs and related assistance that the LGU has given to indigent residents, Leonardo said.
MBB INSPIRES PARENTS, TOO
The rice subsidy program for students also inspired the parents, Jaojoco and Leonardo noted.
They pointed out that since the MBB cascade, parents are becoming more active in helping their children with their lessons and in complying with the module.
While it may be difficult for under schooled parents to mentor their children, they, however, strive to do so apparently also because of the rice incentive, the education supervisor said.
They now try their best to push their children to study their lessons and accomplish their assignments, the mayor said, adding that “what is important is that these pupils continue their studies despite the ongoing health crisis”. ETL
