SUB-REGIONAL WORKSHOP FOR COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER PERSONNEL

The UNESCO ASIA-PACIFIC Regional Bureau for Education in Thailand, and the Asia-Pacific Programme for Education for All, conducted a sub-regional workshop for community learning center (CLC) personnel from eight different countries.

A total of 15 CLC personnel participated in the workshop held at SEAMEO INNOTECH from April 28 to May 5. They were Ms. Li Hong from China; Mr. Moh Taklim Makrup and Mr. Buhai Simanjuntak from Indonesia; Ms. Shaizada Tasbulatova from Kazakhstan; Mr. Nik Hashim B. Nik Abdullah and Mr. Bahrin Md Lani from Malaysia; Dr. Dondog Haidav and Mr. Buyanjargal Namsrai from Mongolia; Ms. Glorina F. Sadaran and Ms. Ma. Nida C. Caramat from the Philippines; Dr. Preeyanuch Jariyavidyanont and Ms. Pannee Maiprasitthikul from Thailand; and Mr. Alisher Akhmedov and Ms. Nodira Hojibekova from Uzbekistan.

One of three workshops organised by UNESCO, the Philippine workshop was designed mainly to provide CLC personnel with knowledge and skills to manage CLC and implement continuing education activities with emphasis on the use of information and communications technology (ICT).

Workshop activities revolved around the contents of two handbooks developed by UNESCO—the management of community learning centres, and the effective implementation of continuing education programme at the grassroots.

Participants had a chance to interact with members of the Kabuhayan sa Gulayan (livelihood in vegetable-growing), a community project relying on no external funding for support; and to observe two bureaus of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)—the Community TeleCenter and the Agham sa Barangay (science in the village)—that feature the applications of ICT to grassroots community development.

They were also provided hands-on training on ICT to orient them on its various applications in CLC programmes, particularly in the use of the Internet for continuing education activities.

The workshop likewise served as a venue for sharing country experiences on the implementation of CLC projects. Plenary sessions and small group discussions afforded participants the opportunity to identify problems and possible solutions for CLC planning and management.

UNESCO Secretariat staff Ms. Darunee Riewpituk, Specialist in Continuing Education, and Ms. Chiho Ohashi, Assoc. Expert in Literacy and Continuing Education, served as workshop coordinators. Resource persons included Dr. Eligio B. Barsaga, Dr. Zenaida T. Domingo, Ms. Susan R. Dizon, and Mr. Anthony A. Reyes, all from INNOTECH; Dr. Rosario J. de Guzman, Director of the Bureau of Nonformal Education, DepEd; and Mr. Almario E. Francisco, City Councilor.

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