BAGUIO CITY – Another collaboration between the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Catholic schools in the Cordillera Administrative Region was formalized for the deployment of Science and Technology Academically Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosks (STARBOOKS), a digital library in a box, in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
The DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute (STII), DOST-CAR, and Saint Louis University and Catholic schools signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the use of STARBOOKS in the CAR, on May 9, 2023 at the Fr. Gevers Hall, Diego Silang Building, SLU, Baguio City.
DOST-CAR Regional Director Nancy A. Bantog, in her message, said that the signing of agreement is a testament of a public-private partnerships, noting that it is the highest number of units and school-recipients to be deployed with STARBOOKS at one time.
Dir. Bantog added that STARBOOKS is the solution to the issue on readily accessible learning materials due to the internet or intermittent connectivity due to the topography in the Cordillera.
DOST-STII Director Richard Burgos said that STARBOOKS is one of DOST’s way of meeting its commitment in bringing Science for the People even to far-flung areas. He mentioned that the partnership with SLU will continue and a second batch of deployment is being targeted in July this year.
“In today’s era, collaboration and partnership are the passwords of society” said Rev. Fr. Gilbert Sales, President of Saint Louis University and Regional Program Director of Private Education Assistance Committee in CAR, as he noted that this initiative will help bring quality education in the region.
After the mass installation and MOA signing of STARBOOKS, a user’s and administrators training was conducted also by the DOST-STII.
DOST-CAR will be in charge of monitoring and providing technical assistants to recipients in the region.
The deployment of STARBOOKS to SLU-affiliated schools was born out of the collaboration between Dr. Joselito C. Gutierrez, Executive Assistant to the President of SLU and Director Richard Burgos of DOST-STII.
About 40 elementary and high school Catholic schools were recipients of the deployment of STARBOOKS in the said activity. By DOST-CAR