BPO to help hone English skills of public school students

AEGIS People Support will join the cause of reinforcing and improving the English communication skills of the students in public schools in Cebu.

This cause, dubbed “Better English, Better Future Program,” was piloted by Qualfon Philippines Inc., with barangay Apas, Cebu City, as its host community.

Forty-eight Qualfon agent-volunteers spent conducted story-telling sessions to 416 grade 1 pupils of Camp Lapu-Lapu Elementary School and tutorial sessions for 400 fourth year students of Apas National High School.

The program, which started January last year, aims to address the decline in the communication skills of new graduates, especially those from public schools, through an alternative, informal home-style teaching and coaching sessions on practical, conversational English.

These sessions will help make students confident in speaking the English language, develop practical vocabulary, learn basic grammar application and universal diction and pronunciation.

Aegis People Support, a business process outsourcing company, will share their expertise to their beneficiary, the Lahug Elementary School.

A workshop will be conducted by the Department of Education Cebu City Division to Aegis People Support volunteers tomorrow, Feb. 18, from 8 a.m. to noon at Aegis Tower in I.T. Park, Cebu City.

Basic classroom management session will be tackled by Grecia Bataluna while story-telling session will be handled by Martha Ricablanca.

The English Proficiency Program was conceptualized by Vicsal Foundation Inc., the corporate foundation of Metro Gaisano chain of stores.

The foundation is optimistic to sustain this project with the help of other BPOs and private entities. For interested volunteers, call the Vicsal Foundation secretariat at 236-8390 local 221 and look for Mars Cabildo-Rubica or Joy Ong.