CHARITY ERDA 2008 -GRADUATES

ERDA TECH FOUNDATION, INC.
(A Member of the ERDA GROUP – ERDA, ERDA TECH, FAHAN, ASAP)

Report Title:

End-of-School-Year Progress Report
on the Sponsored Students of the Lighthouse Club Manila
Enrolled in ERDA TECH Foundation’s Technical High Program
for SY 2007-08

Prepared for:
THE LIGHTHOUSE CLUB MANILA BRANCH, INC.

10 July 2008

ERDA TECH students under the sponsorship of the Lighthouse Club Manila (L-R): Jonathan Buagas, Bryan Carlo Pedroso, Lester Baaclo, Ken Larie de Vera, Kenneth Tarnate. (Not in photo: Echeneo Bejerano Jr)

1. SCHOOL YEAR 2007-08

ERDA TECH officially started SY 2007-08 on 4 June 2007 with a total enrollment of 573 students. By the end of the school year, 515 (89%) successfully completed their respective year-level requirements. Of these, 447 were promoted to the next higher year levels, and 68 (fifth-year students) graduated from the program.

For the 35 students who were retained at the same year levels, records show that their difficulties were in Mathematics, Science, English and Social Studies subjects. This has been a recurring situation, which the school addresses by holding remedial classes during summer each year. Another step taken starting SY 2007-08 was establishing a Peer Tutoring Group, wherein students in the same or upper year levels who perform well in one or more of these subjects help their schoolmates as peer tutors. Weekly tutoring sessions during the school year were held as needed, under the guidance of a teacher.

A total of 23 students (from all five year levels) had dropped out of the program at different points during the school year. The Registrar’s Office and the Social Services Unit noted the most common reasons for dropping out: a) family problems, which eventually led to the student’s frequent absences and loss of interest in his studies; b) health problems, requiring student to rest and stay home; and c) demolition of house, requiring the family to relocate and the student to transfer to another school.

Table 1. ERDA TECH Students, SY 2007-08

2. LIGHTHOUSE CLUB MANILA SPONSORSHIP

The Lighthouse Club Manila’s (LCM) association with ERDA TECH Foundation goes back to SY 2000-01, when it initially sponsored two ERDA TECH third-year students. LCM had signified that its preference was for students whose specializations were in technical areas related to the construction industry. Hence, the selection of students to be sponsored started at the third-year level, since this was when the students start training in their respective specializations. The number of students being sponsored each year gradually built up to a maximum of six students starting SY 2003-04. In SY 2006-07, four fourth-year students and two fifth-year students were sponsored.

Last SY 2007-08, the four fourth-year students went on to their fifth year, and two fifth-year students were newly assigned (to fill the slots of the previous two who had graduated at the end of SY 2006-07) to join the group of LCM’s sponsored students. These newly assigned students are Ken Larie D. DE VERA (Drafting, with AutoCAD) and Kenneth T. TARNATE (Electricity). Hence, SY 2007-08 started with LCM sponsoring six fifth-year students. For these six students, ERDA TECH received from LCM sponsorship funds amounting to a total of PhP157,320.00 (cf. Annex 1, Financial Report).

3. SPONSORED STUDENTS’ UPDATES, SY 2007-08

Pertinent information as well as the progress of these sponsored students are summarized (cf. Annex 2, Sponsored Students’ Profile). Except for one student (Ken Larie D. DE VERA), who had to go on sick leave for a year, all of LCM’s sponsored fifth-year students completed their in-plant training (IPT) and graduated from ERDA TECH last March 2008.

Below are individual updates on the students, summarized from student records of the school’s Guidance and Counseling Office and the Social Services Unit and from notes taken during individual interviews conducted towards the end of SY 2007-08.

1. Lester M. BAACLO (M, 17-year old, Sp - Electronics)

Lester, 17, who specialized in Electronics, underwent IPT at the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT). He was assigned a variety of tasks, from taking phone inquiries to troubleshooting electronic gadgets, as well as doing electrical wiring. He found his training experience to be challenging, as he got to apply the skills he learned at school in real work situations. He values his having met and worked with professional people. Lester plans to continue to college and take up an engineering course in electronics/electricity.

Echeneo, 17, specialized in Woodworking (Finishing Carpentry). For his IPT, he trained at Just-in-Time Logistics Services Corp., where he was assigned to helping a co-worker make wooden billboards and road signs. The training has been for him a humbling learning experience. He would like to work after high school graduation in order to earn money to go to college and take up civil engineering.

Jonathan, 17, specialized in Electricity. At school, he liked Mathematics, Filipino and Social Studies. For his IPT, he was placed at the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), where his main responsibility was to repair defective telephone terminals. There, he also learned how to handle queries and complaints of some customers, as well as do electrical wiring tasks. Jonathan would like to go on to college and take up electrical engineering.

Ken, 17, creative and skilled in drawing, specialized in Drafting. A diligent student, he had eagerly awaited going on IPT. However, he became seriously ill in July and was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. He was advised to rest, and to re-enroll upon medical clearance the following school year. After having been counseled by the Guidance Counselor and Social Worker, he went on sick leave from school for the rest of the school year. He looks forward to re-enrolling in SY 2008-09.

Bryan, 17, who specialized in Drafting, spent his IPT at Forssman Pacific, where he trained as assistant to the Draftsman and learned to do engineering drawing using AutoCAD. He was commended for being conscientious. His good communication skills were also noted. His integrity and diligence at work paid off. Bryan happily shared that he will start working at Forssman as Draftsman after his high school graduation. He plans to work for at least two years, then pursue a course in architecture.

Kenneth, 17, was a consistent honor student and received good grades in Social Studies, English and his specialization, Electricity. He underwent IPT at the Pandacan Depot Services Inc. (PDSI), where he was assigned to encode and file documents. He was made in charge of inventorying materials on fittings and instrumentation. He also drew floor plans and electrical plan layouts. He appreciated the varied experience it gave him. He also shared that the company was offering him a summer job after graduation, Kenneth plans to take the offer and save the money in preparation for college. He would like to go on to college and take up electrical engineering.

Table 2. Annual Tuition and Other School Fees, SY 2008-09 (in PhP)