Chad Compton, associate academic vice president in BYU-Hawaii, said he
visited the city of Manila in the Philippines to establish a computer
lab within the Manila Philippines Institute of Religion (MPIR) to help
the young single adults (YSA) obtain a higher education and become more
marketable.
“The lab is a gathering place. We have some YSA in the Philippines who
we think they would go to college if they have the right opportunity and
support; but they can’t because of economic issues. Online education
would help them. Part of the priorities of the church is to help YSA to
get as much as education as possible. We are trying a pathway that we
have never tried before,” said Compton.
From Aug. 31 to Sept. 5, Compton spent time with the YSA Institute
teachers and local stake presidents to explain the concept behind the
computer lab. “Internet and digital devices provide a dramatic change in
communication. It drops the cost, but increases the need of new tools
for instructional technologies and media,” he said.
Since not all YSA can afford the cost to own a computer, the lab
provides free new tools to students that allow them to gain an
education. “They are now available to study with technologies, but still
decrease the cost,” Compton said.
For students who cannot afford college education, they can now earn an
overseas college certificate or associate’s degree without leaving their
country. A student can get a certificate from BYUH by earning 15
credits or qualify for an associate’s degree by earning 60 or more
credits.
Compton explained how the lab benefits both people within the
Philippines as well as students planning to attend BYUH. Students can
take advantage of the lab by taking credits online that work toward
their nine-semester plan. Students can also improve their English skills
and be exposed to the United States education system before setting
foot on campus. Students will more confident as they prepare to
transition into life in America.
This Fall Semester 2012, there are 35 students taking online classes
from the lab and the majority of them are taking at least two online
classes, which include EIL, religion, student development, biology,
music, and ASL.
In October 2012, senior couple missionaries will serve in the lab as
mentors to assist the students. “Right now there are only institute
teachers helping in the lab, but the church is planning to employ
Filipino alumni from BYUH to help in the lab to provide technical and
teaching supports to the students,” said Compton. “If we see success, we
might build more labs. Our next plan might be to do something in China
and New Zealand.”
“If you are in the Philippines, you’ll probably notice how eager we are
to continue our education by all means,” said Sid Francis Balubal, a
Filipino sophomore who is majoring in psychology. “Filipino customs
treasure education as a key to success. An online class is a great
alternative if they [YSA in the Philippines] cannot afford to come here.
Filipinos will always be grateful of any help rendered to them,
especially if it is for their own benefit.”
Agreeing with Balubal, Kit Alfonso Nadado, a sophomore majoring in
English education who is also from the Philippines, said, “there are a
lot of them [YSA] who dream of going to BYUH, but money is meager. Their
parents cannot support them, so the dream remains just a dream.” He
said it is a fulfillment of a dream to YSA in the Philippines to have
this computer lab.
Holding a different opinion, Eugene Aloc, another Filipino sophomore
majoring in supply chain management, said, “I know the online class
would save them [YSA] some money; but in the long run, it is still too
expensive because they won’t get I-WORK scholarships.” He said without
the I-WORK scholarship, it is too expensive for YSA in the Philippines
to seek college education physically at BYUH or through online classes.
“My point is that because of poverty, they [YSA] wouldn’t have the
opportunity to have it [education],” said Aloc.
See this article on Ke Alaka'i
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