CTE Holds Culminating Activity in its Adapted Barangay

SRVillasis & MSAcoritay, ASU-ECS

BANGA, Aklan – The month-long extension activity of the Aklan State University- College of Teacher Education (ASU-CTE) held it’s culminating activity for this year’s implementation of its extension project, Human Resource Development for Rural Advancement project on March 17, 2007 at the Bacan Elementary School.

The Banga Municipal Mayor, Hon. Jeremy N. Fuentes graced the activity. In his message, he acknowledged that ASU through its extension projects has been in the forefront in laying down foundation for a strong, viable, self-reliant community. He also added that the CTE, in its project, has focused on the three areas of community concern, namely; literacy enhancement, health watch, and livelihood program. He ended his message with a challenge to the CTE to extend their projects to the far-flung barangays of Banga.

The ASU-Extension and Community Services (ASU-ECS) Dr. Anna Mae C. Relingo, delivered an inspiring message in behalf of the ASU President Dr. Benny A. Palma. Dr. Relingo assured the participants and their partner agencies that ASU, through its extension projects, will continue its support and assistance to the residents of Banga. She reiterated that ASU will sustain the goal of the CTE extension programs to transfer appropriate knowledge and skills, and inculcate desirable values for a progressive community life.

The CTE Dean Dr. Edna I. Gonzales presented the project highlights. She emphasized that the threefold project aimed to enhance literacy among school children, out of school youths and adults. It was also designed to improve health condition of the children beneficiaries, and to provide appropriate knowledge and skills for livelihood capability enhancement of its beneficiaries.

According to Dr. Gonzales, the literacy enhancement program aimed to enrich the learners’ talents, knowledge and skills. It also supports the government’s goal to strengthen the teaching in English, Science and Mathematics subjects to attain quality education.

The second component of the project is the Health Watch. It is designed to provide support and services to improve the health condition of the school-age children who are also participants of the literacy enhancement and tutorial classes. The facilitators monitored the height and weight of the beneficiaries. They also conducted feeding programs, provided vitamins and supplements, and administered deworming medications to the children. The facilitators also held information dissemination on proper health care to sustain the project.

Livelihood Capacity Enhancement is the third project component. This is about adult learning such as making use of local issues and concerns like enhancing the skills of the family as a base for household income-earning enterprises, improving family management system through values formation and appropriate livelihood skills training based on the resources of the barangay and needs of the participants.

This Summer 2007, CTE’s extension program will focus on the enhancement of the children’s capabilities on culture and arts.