3 Pinoy teachers awarded in Thailand

Three Filipino teachers who recently won the Southeast Asian Educational Innovation Awards (SEA EIA) were also given recognition during the 45th Seameo High Officials Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.

The three Filipinos were Rowan Celestra, principal of Buenavista Elementary School in Sorsogon City; Joana Romano, master teacher 1 from Melencio M. Castelo Elementary School in Quezon City; and Mary Hazel Ballena, principal of Bucay North Elementary School in Abra.

Celestra spearheaded the project Education for Nanay in the Community (E-Nay.Com).

“This honor is for the effort of our Department of Education to pursue the continuity of education amid the pandemic. Hopefully, this will serve as inspiration to teachers, school officials and partners to continue what we have started with our learners,” he said in Filipino.

Romano developed an offline game-based digital application coupled with a set of video materials to teach kindergarten students mathematics and reading.

Ballena’s school was able to provide handheld two-way radio for every student which they used to deliver lessons, conduct learner assessments, and conduct parent orientation and meetings via Teachers’ Engagement, Action and Commitment in Assisting Learners at Home to Think, Ask, Listen, and Build New Knowledge or Teach Talk.

The awardees were chosen from more than 350 classroom and school innovations nominated from six Southeast Asian countries. 

Each winner received a trophy of recognition and a travel grant of up to $3,000 each as part of the prize..