DOST sets to improve barangay school’s access to science, technology information

Tangalan, Aklan — Aiming to strengthen the human resource development of Barangay Jawili in Tangalan, Aklan through increased access to S&T information, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) VI through its Aklan Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC), provides STARBOOKS or the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated Kiosk Stations to Jawili Integrated School.

STARBOOKS is a stand-alone pod designed to provide STI (Science, Technology, and Innovation)-based information primarily to students and other stakeholders with limited or no access to S&T.  The kiosk contains digitized science and technology resources in various formats.

The provision of STARBOOKS is one of the components under the DOST CEST (Community Empowerment Thru Science and Technology) program for BUGNA Jawili in Tangalan, Aklan.  BUGNA stands for Building an Unparalleled Grassroots for the New Normal Awesome Jawili”.  Through the CEST program, some issues and concerns are sought to be addressed to boost the tourism industry, improve production and marketing of local products, and establish a community-managed disaster risk reduction to prevent and/or mitigate the spread of coronavirus, as well as the impact of natural and other man-made hazards in the community.

Two (2) desktop computers with STARBOOKS were provided to the recipient school.  Aklan PSTC personnel, Ms. Antonette U. Donato and Ms. Eunice Raiza R. Panagsagan conducted the actual demonstration and hands-on activities which were attended by 45 participants composed of ASU personnel and Jawili Integrated School teachers, PTA, and students.  The STARBOOKS project in Jawili Integrated School is in partnership with the Aklan State University – College of Industrial Technology (ASU-CIT).

DOST VI now has a total of 291 STARBOOKS recipients in Western Visayas, which are mostly public schools and LGUs.