NEGROS ORIENTAL, Oct. 15 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has brought its digital science and technology library to Bayog High School in Canlaon City in a bid to upgrade the learning tools of the students in the area.

Brgy. Bayog where the high school is located is one of the barangays in the province tagged as conflict areas due to the presence of communist insurgents.

Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing of DOST said students and teachers had the chance to interact with the Philippine's first science digital library, Science and Technology Academic Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Stations (STARBOOKS).

STARBOOKS is a standalone information source designed to provide science and technology-based learning resources to geographically-isolated schools and local government units (LGUs) and enhance the educational competence of students.

This contains thousands of digitized science and technology resources in various formats (text and video/audio) placed in specially designed "pods" set in a user-friendly interface.

In a Gobyerno Serbisyo Caravan during the Negros Oriental Task Force Endong Local Communist Armed Conflict (NOTF ELCAC) Dagyawan sa Barangay in the city, the students in Bayog were able to explore the different science and technology digital contents following a technical demonstration.

Abing said the information in the kiosk can be accessed even without internet connection.

"Information available is read-only," he added.

It features videos dubbed "Tamang DOSTkarte Livelihood Videos" to stimulate every Filipino's entrepreneurial capacity.

Abing said the school hopes to have all its computers under the Department of Education Computerization Program (DCP) will be connected with STARBOOKS to maximize its use.

School Principal Francisca Villocillo said she aims to include STARBOOKS in her priority plans for next school year.

In another development, a review class for those who will be taking the DOST Science Education Institute Scholarship Examination was held in Jose Cardenas Memorial National High School in Panubigan, Canlaon City on the same occasion.

The move aims to increase the awareness of the students on the nature of the exam and increase their probability of passing the actual scholarship examination.

A total of 34 students participated in the review class.

The Science and Technology (S&T) Undergraduate Scholarships Program aims to stimulate and entice talented Filipino youths to pursue lifetime productive careers in science and technology and ensure a steady, adequate supply of qualified S&T human resources that can steer the country towards national progress. (jct/PIA7 Negros Oriental)