St. Paul University Iloilo has been chosen by the Department of Education (DepEd) to be the host of the mass training of the Grade 9 teachers of the K to 12 Basic Education Program for two subject areas, Araling Panlipunan and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao. Participants of the mass training are public school teachers from eight divisions, namely the divisions of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Iloilo City, Passi City, and Roxas City. From May 12 to 16, the University welcomed 622 Araling Panlipunan teachers, and next week, from May 19 to 23, the University will welcome 633 Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao teachers.
The mass training of Grade 9 teachers is part of the efforts of the Department of Education to prepare teachers for this educational system change so that their goal of producing globally competitive graduates will be accomplished. Trainers of this mass training had their National Training of Teachers (NTOT) before they can participate in the mass training in the region level. In fact, several SPUI faculty were sent to these national trainings in preparation for the mass training that took place this week and the week after.
The mass training for the Araling Panlipunan this week started with an opening ceremony at the Fr. Louis Chauvet Multi-Purpose Hall. The highlights of the opening ceremony include the welcome message of the University President, Sr. Carolina Agravante, SPC; the keynote address of DepEd Secretary, Bro. Armin Luistro; the message of Education Program Supervisor, Mary Hazel Viven Pineda, Ph.D.; and the cultural presentation of Paulinians. The 622 participants were divided into ten groups and two trainers were assigned for each group. The training of each group started right after the opening ceremony.
The five-day training ended in the afternoon of May 16 with a closing ceremony at the Fr. Louis Chauvet Multi-Purpose Hall. Highlights of the closing ceremony include the synthesis, a recap through video presentation of the five-day event; the sharing of feedback of participants regarding the training; and the speech of DepEd Regional Director, Corazon P. Brown, Ph.D., CESO-IV who challenged the teachers to remain in the objective of the DepEd, and that is to produce globally competitive graduates. The closing program ended with the closing prayer after the closing remarks given by Sr. Carolina Agravante, SPC, University President.
The mass training proved to be successful with the active coordination and team work of all the steering committees composed of the entire Paulinian community. Students from the College of HRM, Tourism and Nutrition were actively involved in the accommodation, ushering, and food service as the participants had their three meals plus two snacks in the campus. Students from AB Mass Communication took charge in the documentation. Students from the College of Nursing were in the first aid stations to assist participants who may have fallen ill. The Paulinian Student Government spearheaded by its President, Ernan Canitan was also active in the program committee. The entire endeavor was chaired by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Flor Agnes Sy and the dean of the College of Teacher Education, Dr. Sunny Gabinete. The mass training was also made possible with the involvement of many of the working staff.