News and Features
Elementary School In Apalit, Pampanga Is First Smart Schools Jr. Partner
[July 13, 2007/ Manila] - Established in the late 1920s as the first central school in the town of Apalit, Pampanga, the Jose Escaler Memorial School, which sits in a 27,000 square meter lot in barangay San Juan, is named in honor of the first Filipino assistant director of education, famous Apaliteño Jose Escaler.
Today, the school writes another first in its eight-decade history by becoming the very first partner school under the newly launched Smart Schools Junior Program. This community initiative of Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) aims to provide deserving public elementary schools with the necessary facilities and continuous training to ably integrate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the educational process.
Realizing the importance of exposing students to the benefits of ICT at the earliest stage of learning, Smart extended its efforts for its flagship community project Smart Schools Program to benefit grade schoolers as well.
Launched in December 2004, the Smart Schools Program has linked a community of 100 partner schools representing public high schools nationwide, from as far as Basco, Batanes up north to Bonggao, Tawi-Tawi down south. Through Smart Schools Junior, Smart intends to replicate this success and build a sustainable relationship with and among its “younger” partners.
Jose Escaler Memorial School’s formal inauguration into the program was marked by the turnover of the Smart Teacher Learning Resource Center (TLRC) led by PLDT and SMART Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan whose grandfather Benito and father Dominador are both Apaliteños. In fact, Dominador Pangilinan studied at the very same school.
Housed within the school’s Smart TLRC are networked computers with wireless Internet connection powered by Smart Bro, Smart’s fixed wireless broadband service. Networking was done by faculty from the Bulacan State University, which is a partner school under another education program called the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP).
The Smart Schools Program has given birth to a “big brother” initiative wherein SWEEP faculty are trained on networking and other ICT subjects, which they echo either through trainings involving Smart Schools teachers or actual networking of the computers in the labs of Smart Schools Program partners.
As part of the standard Smart Schools package, the school received an additional two computer units and other peripherals including webcams, a scanner, and a printer. An additional four PCs have also been donated by Mr. Pangilinan and are connected via PLDT myDSL. Both connections are free for one year.
Aside from the Internet access, Smart will also be providing teacher trainings on various subjects including basic computer literacy, ICT integration in the classroom, building 21st century school teachers, as well as, basic troubleshooting and maintenance. This essential component of the program is conducted to equip instructors and school stockholders with the necessary knowledge and skills to better integrate ICT into the school’s curriculum.
Relevant online content will likewise be made available to the teachers and students of Jose Escaler Memorial School through the website www.smartschools.ph.
“Being a Smart Schools Junior, the first one at that, is a great privilege. It is a great gift to the school,” says principal Gertrudes Marucut. Although retiring from her post this September, Marucut is confident that she’ll be leaving the school in good hands, something Smart and the Smart Schools community will definitely see to.
For Jose Escaler Memorial School and its 913 students, the best of times for learning has arrived.
Smart Schools Junior is implemented in partnership with PBSP, Learn.ph Foundation and SWEEP, with the support of the Department of Education. @
