Cartwheel team members visited the newest partner area of Barangay Mampang, Zamboanga last November 17-19, 2014 to check on the Angiskul Ma Bangka alternative education program after its launch in October 2014.

Pia Ortiz-Luis (Executive Director), Celia Jurado (Programs Officer), Bricks Sintaon (Education Coordinator), and Veroche Tarabi (Programs Consultant) engaged with members of Cartwheel’s local implementing partner, Ateneo de Zamboanga University-Center for Community Extension Services (ADZU-CCES) to evaluate the Angiskul Ma Bangka project’s first month of operations, review the curriculum framework, identify priority needs, and chart next steps for continuous improvement. Given the unique context of the project, it was determined that its curriculum would have to be more module-based, with emphasis on Peace Education. It is in this light that the psychosocial component which is planned to be integrated into the curriculum takes on even more relevance.

The team also visited the community in Brgy. Mampang, the project site, to observe the conduct of classes for young indigenous learners, who are mostly Badjao but also include Tausug children. Teacher Relinda Montimor is herself from the Badjao community, and evidently has genuine compassion for the children she teaches. She strives to provide a safe learning environment for her young learners in the sanctuary of the “classroom” that was constructed by the learners’ parents themselves.

Original projections for enrolment was 60 children; currently, there are 88 enrollees in total, since so many parents expressed their desire for their children to be part of the program as well. The group of learners is divided into two 2-hour classes — an 8-10am class and a 10am-12nn class. The eagerness of the attendees had been very apparent too, as evidenced by the fact that the learners from the 10am-12nn class were already waiting outside the classroom as early as 8am!

Still much has to be done in terms of curriculum/module customization, teacher’s training (on teaching strategies, lesson planning and materials development) and the like, but all in all, Angiskul Ma Bangka has been off to a great start!