. NEWS ROUNDUP .

TO further improve science and technology in the country, the Department of Education yesterday said it will prioritize the hiring of scholars who have graduated from the Department of Science and Technology- Science Education Institute (DPST-SEI) as teachers in public secondary schools.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said the science scholars can best serve the country by passing their knowledge on to a new generation of students especially at the secondary level and "empower public secondary schools to challenge their students to be more creative and primed to meet the challenges of the 21st century."

Lapus said to qualify to teach, the scholars must pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers set on Sept. 28. He said 958 teacher items have been allocated to DOST-SEI scholars since 2002 and they are working on doubling the figure this coming school year.

Region V (Bicol Region) topped the regions with the highest number of DOST-SEI scholars this school year with 41, while the National Capital Region has 30 out of the total of 147. The rest are evenly distributed in the rest of the country. – Ashzel Hachero

A CONFERENCE on the latest trends in early childhood education and the results of current research on raising and educating Filipino preschoolers will be held on May 14-15 at SEAMEO Inno-tech along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.

The Big Circle Time: Empowering the Filipino Early Childhood Educator, organized by Fortissimo Inc., would involve plenary sessions; smaller, parallel lecture-workshops on topics related to early childhood development, particularly in art and music, math, science and general literacy; sessions on teachers as researchers, dual-language programs in preschool, the Waldorf philosophy, and the use of the Project Approach.

Project Approach is an innovative child development concept pioneered by internationally known Canadian educator Dr. Sylvia Chard, which is now being used by child development experts and preschool educators in many countries.

Fortissimo managing director Myra J. Jiao said participants will undergo learning exercises, including short demonstrations on practical teaching methods and teaching technologies, capped by a Synthesis session at the end of the day.

Fee is P4,000. For reservations and inquiries, call Mark Purugganan at 9310372, or Myra Jiao at 0917-8550457.

Makati holds ‘Chalk Art’ on Sunday

THE stretch of Ayala Avenue in front of Tower One of the Philippine Stock Exchange Building will once again be used as a giant canvas on May 4 as Makati holds its yearly "Chalk Art" activity.

Starting 7 am, artists, city employes and residents - armed with colored chalks instead of paint brushes - will draw nature-inspired images on the street. Social realists Edgar Talusan-Fernandez and Neil Doloricon will be the lead artists.

Makati is considered one of the leading local governments in terms of promoting environmental awareness and enforcing laws to protect the environment. Last April 28, the city encouraged motorists to shut off their engines for one minute as part of the observance of Earth Day. It is also conducting test runs of the electric jeepney and if viable will introduce the vehicle to the city’s business district as a way to reduce carbon emissions.