SIQUIJOR, Siquijor (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) recently signed an agreement with 69 public elementary schools and nine public high schools here for the rollout of the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated KioskS (STARBOOKS) program. 

The partnership aims to boost science, technology, and research education in the province. 

The MOA signing was done by Siquijor Provincial Science and Technology Director Mario E. de la Peña and the heads of the schools. 

This initiative aims to bridge the information gap in Siquijor's schools by providing students with accessible and interactive learning resources on various science and technology topics.

"The STARBOOKS program is a testament to DOST's commitment to empowering our learners in Siquijor. These kiosks will not only provide readily available information but will also foster a culture of curiosity and exploration among our students,” said De la Peña in a press statement. 

He said the MOA signing signifies a collaborative effort between DOST and the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Siquijor in achieving quality science education.

Edisa Calvadores, education program supervisor of DepEd’s Learning Resource Management and Development Division, said the STARBOOKS program aligns with DepEd’s vision of equipping students with the 21st century skills they need to thrive in today’s environment.  

"The STARBOOKS kiosks will be a valuable resource for both teachers and students, promoting interactive and engaging learning experiences," said Calvadores. 

Jennyvie A. van Rozelaar, teacher-in-charge of Banban National High School-Junior High School, expressed her excitement about the initiative.

"Students at our school could benefit from the STARBOOKS program in a number of ways. First of all, it makes a large variety of instructional resources, such as e-books, articles, films, and interactive learning tools, easily accessible. Students' grasp of a variety of subjects and topics can be improved by this access beyond what is provided by standard textbooks," shared van Rozelaar.

She also highlighted the program's potential to promote collaborative learning.

"STARBOOKS program promotes collaborative learning by making it easier for students to share ideas and materials. Students can meaningfully interact with their peers through discussion boards, group projects, and shared annotations, which promotes a sense of community and cooperation," explained Ms. van Rozelaar.

STARBOOKS are stand-alone computerized information kiosks or offline digital libraries, providing students and faculty access to science and technology information resources in specifically designed “pods” in a user-friendly interface.

Each STARBOOKS contains hundreds of thousands of digitized science and technology resources in various formats like text, audio, and video. (RAHC/PIA7 Siquijor with reports from DOST7)