In 2008 Goducate began to provide face-to-face basic training in literacy and numeracy to the children of undocumented Filipinos in the eastern part of Sabah. But the aims and process of training, of the children and of the teachers, have been adapted to modern-day methods.
Undocumented Filipinos are those who enter the country illegally. They so in order to find work. Those mothers who had received some education while in the Philippines were trained to help out as teachers to provide the children with some form of primary schooling.
During the Covid-19 pandemic and the post-pandemic periods, Goducate gradually incorporated online learning. This allowed Philippines-based teaching mothers to educate learners in Sabah.
After a diverse Goducate team, together with an app developer visited Sabah in May 2024, an initiative was proposed to digitalize our work. The initiative resulted in the creation of a web app designed to teach life and employable skills specifically in the Sandakan district of Sabah, aiming to enhance the community's sustainability.
As a result of this initiative, the team that created this web app met online weekly since June 2024, to develop sample content, design workflows, and establish the data infrastructure. Initially, online teachers and content writers tested the app's content upload functionality to ensure ease of use. Then the app developer and I visited Sandakan on July 8-10 to deploy the app to schoolhouse teachers and learners, in order to assess its navigability, user-friendliness, and overall suitability for end users. We were assisted by the 5 members of the Goducate core team based in Sabah.
One aim of our training is to equip learners with employable skills, rather than merely helping them acquire academic certificates. Another aim that became clear during our two-day visit is that, to effect large-scale change, we must invest in the facilitators’ development. This necessitates a comprehensive training plan, growth-development initiatives, and a robust process, known as onboarding, of introducing newly hired employees into an organization.
As we transition to digitalization, the success of this project hinges on empowering both the first and second generations of facilitators. By providing them with targeted exposure and training, we can ensure they are well-prepared to impart crucial life skills to the learners. This dual focus on immediate skill acquisition for learners and the professional development of facilitators will create a sustainable model that addresses the unique challenges of Sabah, ultimately fostering a more resilient and self-sufficient community.
To support this initiative, we plan to distribute over 50 smartphones to various school houses. These smartphones are essential for accessing the app, which will serve as the primary platform for delivering educational content. Life and technical skills will be taught primarily in Bahasa Melayu, the local language, to ensure effective learning and accessibility. Additionally, we will develop a comprehensive literacy and numeracy curriculum, which will mainly be in English. We will collaborate with content writers and partners to ensure high-quality materials, providing top-tier resources to enhance students' learning experiences.
Pam Dingal
Sabah Ministry Coordinator
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