LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Education’s (DepEd) in Albay, together with the provincial government, launched on Monday the “K-PO” project that aims to reiterate and strengthen the good values students learn in the classroom and make sure these are applied in their daily life.
In his speech, Bebiano Sentillas, Albay schools division superintendent, said the “K-PO” project wants to instill in the youth the teachings of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal -- who believed that the youth is the hope of the fatherland -- and aims to make the same alive and lingering in the hearts of Albayanos.
“In the K to 12 journey, we serve our kindergarten pupils and once it produces graduates in Grade 12, we are not just teaching them the knowledge and skills but we want, more importantly, to instill the values that we need to see," he said.
Sentillas added that the project will assist the mentors in utilizing a more creative and integrative way of teaching values.
DepEd-Albay decided to come up with the “K-PO” project after realizing the need to reinforce the teaching of values to the youth, who are mostly engrossed in using social media, where they tend to acquire bad habits or teachings.
Under the project, each school in the division will be known as a “Character School”.
The office of the school head is expected to feature the DepEd’s core values -- Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, Makabansa -- in any creative way. Class sections can also be named after values, preferably in Filipino.
To create awareness among schools on value focus for a certain month, a short program shall be held after the flag ceremony. For every month, a color-coded value banner will be hung in an accessible area in the school.
Each school or class is also encouraged to have a “Tree of Goodness”, where students or even personnel can hang a symbol, card, item or note of the good thing they have done during the year. Schools shall also put up bulletin boards showing snapshots of good deeds by anybody in the school.
As part of the advocacy program, character icon “Yhanokz and Mayhana” were introduced, representing positive values to the youth.
"Yhanokz" is a millennial nickname derived from “Albayano” for anyone who is young and with a good heart.
"Mayhana" comes from the combined name “Maria Albayana”, representing the image of a young and simple female Albay resident.
Yhanokz and Mayhana represent the DepEd-Albay mantra to serve, excel, care and connect.
Every month, Yhanokz and Mayhana will visit a particular municipality, interact with the learners from elementary to the secondary level, and give rewards to learners who have been spotted demonstrating Mayhanokz qualities.
“We want to expand the curriculum in the Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (values education). We do not end, stop teaching values inside the schools. We want it applied in (the) home, in community, saan man pumunta ang ating mga mag-aaral na Albayano, andon ang paghuhubog sa kanila ng (wherever our Albayano students go, they should be given) values education,” Sentillas said.
Albay Governor Al Frances Bichara, in an interview, said the project is very timely as the youth of today need to relearn good values.
“This is all about the good manners and right conduct that every learner should never forget,” he said. (PNA)
