Building brighter futures in the digital era
Nestled in a small town in Santo Tomas, Batangas, Sta. Teresita Elementary School (STES) is a second home for nearly 200 pupils from low and middle-income families. Nurturing young minds and children’s growth and development, the government-funded public school offers free education from kindergarten up to Grade VI. Each grade level caters to only an average of 25 students due to the limited number of classrooms and educational facilities and the insufficient annual funds.
“Due to financial challenges, many of our students lack the means or the equipment for better learning,” said STES Teacher-in-Charge Marijoy Maghirang, adding the school also lacks contemporary facilities. She believes, “Digital learning is the new way to educate our students more effectively.”
As the school plans to add classrooms and accept more enrollees, the faculty must also modernize their teaching methods and help their pupils adapt to the digital era. Through the support of Cargill and C-Joy, a two-story facility was built to improve their access to advanced educational resources.
The 126 sqm facility was divided into two: a student digital center and a communal e-learning space, designed to help boost the digital knowledge and competence of the students and future learners. It features 32 workstations equipped with desktop computers, a smart TV, and air conditioning, as well as interactive learning spaces and reading corners. The facility also includes energy and water-saving features with accessibility for people with disabilities.
“This project is a huge help for our students. Through this, they will now have access to modern tools and resources that they can use for research activities and other projects,” said Maghirang.
Aside from catering to school classes, the facility can also serve as a venue for training sessions related to community development and capacity-building programs, fostering collaboration among local community members and empowering them toward sustainability.
“On behalf of our teachers, students and their parents, and the community of Barangay Santa Teresita, I am truly grateful to Cargill, C-Joy, and Habitat for Humanity Philippines for the construction of this digital classroom and e-library. This initiative will not only benefit our students but also future generations of learners. We are excited to see the positive impact it will bring to our whole community," said Maghirang.
