GMA to DepEd: Replicate ‘kariton’ classroom
(The Philippine Star) Updated November 28, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo directed yesterday presidential adviser on education Mona Valisno to replicate the kariton classroom system in areas not reached by the Department of Education.
Following the worldwide recognition that CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida’s kariton (pushcart) classroom has generated, the government is now adopting the strategy to reach out to school children, especially in remote areas in the country.
Yesterday, Peñaflorida was conferred the prestigious Order of Lakandula with the rank of komandante at Malacañang for the honor he and his Dynamic Teen Co. (DTC) brought to the country on a worldwide stage. His parents, Lucila and Efren Sr., accompanied him to Malacañang.
The President told Valisno to work with non-government organizations such as the DTC and support them in education programs for children.
She said the focus should be on children from poor families who most likely would have lesser access to education.
“If Kenya was able to have success replicating the program, then there should be no reason for the Philippines not to do this too,” she said. – Marvin Sy
Arlene Alonzo-Pineda said:
I am trying (through my nephew Milnard Custodio) to get one of those Kariton replicas as souvenir. I will pay for it. This can be a fund raising activity for your group. I can also announce it in our CNHS 1972 website for I know some of my batchmates would also like to have one.
Kindly email me on how I can get hold of one. Thank you very much and more power to all of you. Please keep your feet on the ground as you always did and more blessings will be on its way.
God Bless You.
Arlene Alonzo-Pineda
Jersey City, NJ
CNHS 1972
Flora 'lolet' Tejano-Manulat said:
kapatid efren, we also need teachers with the kind of heart like yours… Mabuhay ka EFREN at DTC!
louie bunales said:
Hi guys, I started a mini outreach to Aeta kids last year aroun dthe time the story of Efren started appearing in the newspapers and tv. At the outskirts of our town, there is a community of Aetas and a lot of kids could not afford to go to school. I had this idea to spend time with them every Saturday (during my rest day) and teach them basic literacy. I got more encouragement when I read about Efren. I have a problem though. I need a clear program to follow to make my teaching more structured but at the same time fun. I plan to ran it in short durations say for every six months. I am very curious how you do it. I am not a teacher by profession by the way.I am a registered architect. I have no formal training in teaching. But I do trainings in my work. Does this mean I cannot teach the kids because I have no degree in teaching. I find my time with them very productive though, I read to them, mostly children’s books, we play games, I teach them some songs, we draw – very simple and practical activities. Am I doing it the right way? Please advise, you are the experts on this. Can I get a degree in teaching even if I won’t go to school full time? How?
Raphael said:
Hello Louie,
Good day. Your work is very inspiring. Here’s our answer to you. DTC is aided by professional teachers in creating its curricula and they also teach during the outreaches but a majority of educators in the program are actually just teens in high school. The program does not rely too much on the skills of professional teachers to make it function well because we only teach the most basic of education. So, as long as you are teaching very basic education like us, we think that though you’re not a professional educator yourself, you can teach our fellow Filipino Aetas.
Please do continue your good works. It does a lot for our fellow citizens. Thanks and May God Bless Us All.
Sincerely,
Raphael Luis C. Camposagrado
DTC Secretary
luis bunales said:
Thank you Raphael for the heartwarming reply. I’ll continue to keep track of DTC’s journey. I hope to visit you guys someday, join one of your activities and learn a thing or two. I plan to bring along some young people who are doing the outreach with me.
Thank you for being our inspiration.
Raphael said:
Hi Again,
May God Bless You all for your never-ending support for us.
From,
Raph
orville said:
hello po.. kapapanood ko lang po ng mga videos ni efren sa youtube at talaga naman pong nakaka inspire.. continue lang po ang magandang hangarin ng grupo.. dahil nga rin po kay efren kaya mas nagiging exciting ang ministry namin sa church… nasa community service na rin po kami.. the best ang team na to.. more blessings po sa inyo…!
Mary Joanne said:
Hi Sir Louie Bunales,
I would like to teach the aeta kids as well? How can I be of help?
Thanks,
Joanne
Dominique Concepcion said:
Hi,
I was wondering if we could help out with your kariton klasrum program or some other project you might have
since our society in school is currently looking for an organization or community which we could coordinate or partner with for our outreach program i thought that since your group is already structured with regards to the program you have it would be best if i asked you guys 
thank you and God Bless all of you