LBNHS is I.T.-Ready

Los Baños, July 15, 2003

(Article contribution kicks off with this piece from the Los Baños National High School.)

Like any public high school, the Los Baños National High School (LBNHS) is required by DepEd to implement the new Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) curriculum. However, LBNHS is set apart from the usual public high school image by its I.T. preparedness for TLE. LBNHS is now proud to have 17 faculty and 80 computer units for its TLE classes.

Miss Bejo uses a desktop unit in the library.

Miss Aida M. Bejo, Science Head Teacher, relates the events in the I.T. preparedness of LBNHS. She said that TLE, a major learning module, includes 25% information technology (I.T.) content. All third and fourth year students undergo instruction in I.T. In addition, students in pilot sections (the top sections) and computer education course also take I.T. This scheme gives a total of about 2,300 3rd-4th year and 420 pilot section students, or roughly 2,700 users.

As a course is offered 50 minutes per day (roughly an hour), 2,700 students would require about 70 computers to attain a one-hour hands-on per student (given 40 working hours per week). Happily, the computer inventory of LBNHS already exceeds this number.

Miss Bejo shows the network of computers
donated by DTI.

Miss Bejo is quick to recall the complete inventory of LBNHS computers:

• 20 units brand-new Duron 1.3G units purchased recently by LBNHS;
• 20 units Celeron 800 donated by DTI (these are configured as a local area network);
• 20 units Pentium 133 contracted from a service provider (the contract will expire this school year);
• 20 units 486SX purchased by LBNHS;
• 10 units 486DX2 donated by DOST.

These numbers assure at least 80 units of PCs for instruction as some units are being used in the library and principal's office.

The recent purchase of computers under the administration of Dr. Esmeralda de Castro signals the weaning of LBNHS from the more expensive service agreement with an outside entity, especially since the new units are assured after-sales servicing by the chosen supplier. Funding for the new units is provided by the school PTA. Each unit costs P16,000.

The new computer units are housed in another airconditioned room adjoining the library, where most of the computing equipment are housed.

Miss Bejo and Mr. Bautista pose in the new,
artistically painted computer room.

Although LBNHS was quick to respond to the I.T. education needs of its students, it did so with some cost. Initially, the P45 per month contributed by students was mostly paid to the contracted external service provider. But LBNHS took the challenge to learn, and now it has a faculty complement of 15 I.T. teachers with two full-time I.T. facilitators, namely, Mr. Carlo Bautista and Miss Matilda Manzano.

LBNHS also maintains a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connection for its Internet needs, thus making its facilities at par with nearby Internet Cafes. However, the cost that LBNHS charges its students through the monthly contribution is 30%-50% cheaper.