TARLAC CITY – The Tarlac provincial government has recently launched the “Speech Laboratory” program aimed at improving the oral and
written communication skills of junior and senior high school students.
At least six National High Schools from the municipalities of Victoria, San Jose, Moncada, Anao, Capas and Concepcion benefited from
the first batch of the project.
Each of the digital multi-media instruction laboratories have 30 stations that include servers with dual LCD monitoring system,
audio matrix controller, audio active box and audio equalizer, multi-media headsets with microphone, instruction console and digital
cabling, trainees station and audio active box, base control stand, digital laboratory function software, comprehensive manual cabling, VH
dissector CD lesson and program, learning and manual sourcebook and trainee and instructor chair.
Gov. Susan Yap and Vice Gov. Casada David personally supervised the turnover rites for the six national high schools.
Yap said that the Philippines is lagging behind in terms of English proficiency, both in oral and written communications as
compared to other Asian countries.
“A few years back, the likes of Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and China were way behind us in English proficiency…now they are ahead
of us as I see a steady decline in English proficiency among our students,” the governor said adding that the speech laboratories will
be the tool of Tarlaqueños students to be effective English speakers and writers.
She further said that speech laboratories can be excellent means to practice young people in public speaking, listening and note-taking, as well as host of other skills.
“It maximizes the student’s ability to communicate effectively and develop their English skills like accent, stress and blending of words,” Yap said.
The six national high schools who receive the first batch of equipment are the Anao National High School, Capas National High
School, Benigno S. Aquino National High School, Moncada National High Scool, Mababanaba High School and the Victoria National High School.
“This will definitely help our students be globally competitive,” David, a product of the Benigno S. Aquino National High School pointed-out.
The provincial government spent P3.6-million for each speech laboratory.