- Mobile School -
Innovative Mobile School
Kuya Daniel Razon does it again!
After launching many successful public service projects and media innovations, PMPC's Best Male Newscaster for 2010 and Mr. Public Service Daniel Razon has wheeled up another unique and high-tech project to mark his 27th year as a public servant. "School Buses" - but certainly not your kids' school transport service - rides out for free education in the country's far-flung provinces which are more often deprived of their educational needs.
"Dunong Gulong" (Wisdom on Wheels) as it is named, the project is the latest addition to Razon's wide array of trusted public service launches, which includes, to name a few, the Libreng Sakay sa Bus, Clinic ni Kuya, Law Center ni Kuya, Transient Home, and Free College Education.
The concept for a mobile school, Daniel Razon pointed out, stemmed from his desire to do what he knows is good because it is his responsibility. "You are responsible for what you know and if you do not act upon what you believe is your responsibility, you will be held liable for it", says Kuya Daniel.
Kuya Daniel had long conceptualized of a mobile classroom - probably earlier than anybody else who had planned of the same. Through fortunate happenstance, after a brief half-hour talk with Education Secretary Armin Luistro, when the latter was guest in one of Good Morning Kuya's main segments Get It Straight with Daniel Razon, the friendly chat bloomed to a very promising project worthy of the newly-forged alliance. In a span of three months of continuous negotiations, the "wheeled classrooms" have been finally realized. And the rest, as others would say, is history.
"Secretary Luistro liked the idea, and the project is something he wanted to do. After our talk, I related the matter to Bro. Eli Soriano who responded positively and gave me my marching orders", Kuya recounts. "The idea also springs from the ideas which Bro Eli shares, particularly those which could help boost education."
Bro. Eli Soriano on November 22 this year held a benefit concert in support to the scholars enrolled at the La Verdad Christian College (LVCC). Scholars are provided with everything free - books, uniforms, meals - without fret about any expense. They only have to study well and later on help other people through the knowledge and skills they have acquired. Courses currently offered at La Verdad are Mass Communications and a two-year certification in Nursing. Bro. Eli Soriano is the host of the phenomenal religious program "Ang Dating Daan" (The Old Path).
When asked why Razon chose to pursue the mobile classroom project and if it is something associated with his being an educator - college professor to be specific - Kuya Daniel stressed it has absolutely nothing to do with who or what he is.
"I did not do this because I am prompted by my being a college professor. The project is the essence of what I know is right and necessary, not just something that I personally want. There are things which must be done because they are right and necessary, though they may be beyond one's convenience and personal desires, stressed Razon.
He added, "You have to deny yourself if you have to insist on doing what is right. And after thinking of the right thing to do, act, then persist. Persistence is more than just an act. It is working beyond the limits of one's capacity, and parallel to God's will and purpose. You may think of doing something, but if you do not act and persist on it, it becomes worthless. At most times, work half-done is worse than work undone. We must see the end of what we started. Persistence is a must. So even when doing the right thing becomes rather difficult for most of the time, we have to pursue."
Kuya Daniel admits there are challenges to overcome while on the planning phase. He identifies resources, partnerships, criticism, and rejection as some of the ordeal he went through. But he treats it differently.
"Difficulties will always be there", Kuya Daniel related. "But I do not look at problems as hindrances. Rather, when I plan, I do not even think of the difficulties I will encounter along the way. I plan with the end in mind. God's help and blessing gives me strength to go on. One must think of the pot of gold waiting at the bridge's end. Thinking about the problems around you will only weigh you down."
And how will this project stand out from the rest who may have done the same? The difference lies in the structure. "Dunong Gulong" adopts the alternative learning system (ALS) which ensures not only teaching basic literacy and knowledge of things, but also literacy which is functional and knowledge that really works.
The system will prepare the students before they are fully integrated into the mainstream, that is, formal education. Kuya Daniel indicated, "DepEd guarantees a curriculum-guided alternative learning experience, unlike other regular schools-on-the-go, which is very much like watching an educational program on TV. This project is more than that."
Aside from the convenience and practicality it offers, from the standpoint of volunteer teachers who have to travel, even hike, on heavy backpacks for kilometres, the mobile classroom is an edgy first-rate facility to hit the road. Two customized buses worth P13M will carry the equipment to priority areas. The interior is equipped with plasma TV, projector, books, instructional CD's, and other instructional media. To top that, the Department of Energy will install 12 solar panels on each bus and a standby generator to power the "classrooms" when they reach areas without electrification. Provisions for bed and comfort room for the teachers are also in place.
Many would think of the project as a costly investment, but the benefits it will yield are beyond count.
Kuya Daniel sees the "classroom buses" as means to assess the magnitude of the problem in the education sector. Through the feedback of the volunteer teachers, the project proponents can further plan, improve, invest more if necessary, and seek additional partnerships and linkages with concerned NGO's and agencies to address the problems besetting the DepEd.
Sec. Luistro has expressed his great pleasure and excitement over the project. He is quite impressed and positive of its high success rates. He admits that this bold step is "one hard act to follow." All others who will trail after this example should and must be better. Moreover, quotes Sec. Luistro, "Many other agencies and organizations have shown their interest to help DepEd and we talked about it for long. It was only UNTV led by Kuya Daniel Razon who has solidified a promise into a long-term commitment." “Dunong Gulong” will kick-off in Masbate and Quezon very soon. (Words by Cecile Vizcaya)