Teacher's life in remote areas is really a matter of "life and death". Literally speaking, it's a life risking moment whenever you cross the numerous rivers before reaching your station... If rivers are not passable enough, trail could also lead you in danger. All of these struggles really turned into a blessing for it made any teacher tougher than before... enduring all the hardships successfully!
But what makes it a matter of "life and death" are the reports that need to be prepared and submitted in a short span of time considering the fact that there's no electricity available in that particular area... no signal for any cellphone... communication is through letter only... and transportation is not always possible any time... Because of these, teachers need to prepare everything...(all reports) during weekends so that when he returned to his station everything is settled... Teachers really became the living zombies of this time... no sleep during weekends because they need to beat deadlines of all the reports needed... Their health was also somewhat affected by this.
Last June 26, 2014, teachers problem regarding this was solved. One Meralco has launched once again their School Electrification Program. We were so much blessed because our school was one of the recipients of this program in Rizal. This project will provide electricity to Rizal school children over the 5-year life of the solar electric system, so they may extend learning time, have access to a computer and provide the teachers with some resources.
Most Tanay II District school children attend schools with no electricity leaving them without power for lighting, computers, printers and more. This has huge implications on their education. Without lighting they have very limited reading and studying times, without computers they cannot learn computer skills, without internet they are cut off from a world of free teaching tools and resources, without printers it is very difficult for teachers to create critical educational materials.
This project really provide solar-electric power to twelve schools in Rizal, providing thousand Rizaleño children with a better education in the first year and 120 additional children every year thereafter. It is expected that extended learning time, access to computers and to the internet, and an increased amount and quality of printed materials will greatly improve the level of education for these students, which will give them the tools to lift themselves out of poverty.
Teachers in remote areas, like us, really believed that increasing the number of students going on to higher education will benefit the whole community economically. These electricity systems will be maintained and will benefit generations of students.
Now, the children and the entire school community are all enjoying these blessings... not just the electricity through the solar panel but all other technology equipments as well. Teachers could now make their reports easily at their station and could take their needed rest whenever they're with their family...enjoying every second of their weekends.
