CCC helps Southern Leyte Schools Rule!
Added to website: 10 October 2006
The most recent educational results say it all - the top 10 schools in the Philippines can be found in Southern Leyte! Perhaps the best news is that no school in the province scored under the national average!
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Violeta Merin-Alocilja commented: “Through proper forward planning, a clear vision and the right guidance, we were able to rally the schools and allow them to achieve this success. We have also received a lot of support from NGO’s like Coral Cay Conservation that have supported us and really made a difference. I have always welcomed the support from Coral Cay and we hope to continue working with them in the future.”
It was recognised that Coral Cay Conservation has played an important role in elevating the level of science amongst high school, elementary school and college students in the province. Provincial board member Honourable Eva L. Tomol, commented: “Coral Cay Conservation has supported our efforts to improve science education all the way and we are grateful for their presence here in Southern Leyte”.
Recently, Coral Cay Conservation has focused on its conservation awareness effort, appointing an Education Coordinator to the project. Recognising that long-term conservation and livelihood sustainability can only succeed through education and awareness, several measures have been taken to help ensure the reefs will continue to support future generations.
High school teachers from around the province have visited the expedition site to learn about corals and what they are, coral reef ecosystems, threats to the coral reefs and measures their students can take to protect their local reef. The teachers are provided with a marine educational resource pack that contains lecture material, lesson and activity plans for them to use in the classroom, background information and much, much more. Volunteers are encouraged to join in and share their recently acquired knowledge about coral reefs and coral reef species. To really hit the nail on the head, the teachers are invited for a snorkel to get a firsthand glimpse of the amazing and rich underwater world found on their doorstep.
The impact that a first-time snorkel on the reef can have on both children and adults alike is striking. Although most people here rely on fisheries for their direct or indirect source of income, not many have seen fish and corals in their natural environment. The start in creating more appreciation for their precious resources is by letting them know that a coral reef is more than just a colourful set of rocks but a living colony of animals that houses thousands of species of fish and invertebrates.
The ‘Reef Rangers’ scheme has been set up to get students actively involved in surveying the reefs and presening their peers and communities. After an intensive day of marine identification lectures, the students learn how to conduct basic reef monitoring and are taken into the water for a few practice surveys. The results are put into a poster format and presented to the rest of the school. Having attained the status of Reef Ranger, they can then monitor their local marine sanctuaries and report the results back to the community representatives. Before they are unleashed into back into the community, they are equipped with a Reef Ranger workbook. Coral Cay Conservation only spends a few years in one location but ensures that CCC knowledge and expertise is passed on to those that can continue to monitor the state of the reefs.
The teacher training and Reef Ranger program form part of the ‘Seastar Environmental Award Scheme (SEAS). The aim is to develop sustainable partnerships between CCC and local schools to help develop an environmentally friendly ethos. Schools can progressively attain points or stars by conducting activities including:
I would like to thank Dr. Violeta Merin-Alocilja for her comments and support to Coral Cays efforts. Many thanks as well to Karen Holman, our Education Coordinator without whom all this would not have been possible. Finally, many thanks to all the volunteers and dedicated CCC staff for getting involved in our education projects with so much enthusiasm and commitment.
Jan-Willem van Bochove
Chief Technical Advisor
