The Education Department of the North Philippine Union Conference (NPUC) convened with the teachers, faculty, and staff in each mission field for the opening meetings and to officially implement the use of the Educational Management and Information System (EMIS), an online platform developed by NPUC for Adventist schools within the territory.
Ahead of the enrollment for the school year 2024-2025, the Education Department of the North Philippine Union Conference (NPUC) convened with the teachers, faculty, and staff in each mission field for the opening meetings and to officially implement the use of the Educational Management and Information System (EMIS), an online platform developed by NPUC for Adventist schools within the territory.
This NPUC-EMIS includes several key features aimed at improving school operations. It is designed to ensure the accurate, accessible, and real-time encoding, updating, and generation of data. It simplifies the workflow for teachers while enhancing communication among education leaders, parents, and students, ultimately fostering a more efficient educational environment.
It serves as a comprehensive student record and accounting system, incorporating a grading system that generates report cards. Additionally, EMIS facilitates the creation of financial statements and streamlines the enrollment process. As an online platform, it provides a centralized and accessible system for Adventist schools within the NPUC territory.
The idea of creating a dedicated Management Information System (MIS) for Adventist schools emerged during the height of the pandemic, when many schools struggled to adapt to the sudden changes. Leaders saw the need for a system to facilitate enrollment, keep grading and accounting systems up to date, centralize information, and monitor student progress. EMIS also helps prevent grade discrepancies that often lead to misunderstandings between students, parents, and teachers.
The system is continuously being developed, and by next year, it is expected to include a comprehensive database of books, journals, articles, a lesson plan repository, a collection of educational videos, online course resources, teacher guide manuals, assessment tools, rubrics, and other reference materials.
Currently, more than 50% of elementary schools are already using EMIS, and it is projected that 100% of schools will adopt the system by the end of the year. The student will pay a small amount for its maintenance. At present, the system runs on three Starlink servers, but as usage increases, the plan is to have at least one server per mission or conference. Additionally, Synology NAS (Network-Attached Storage), a multi-functional server, is being used as a file-sharing center within the organization’s intranet. This setup allows the creation of a private cloud where files can be securely stored, accessed, backed up, and shared, ensuring that student data is protected from external leaks and remains in compliance with data privacy regulations.
However, some have expressed concerns about the system, such as issues with connectivity, not being very tech-savvy, and the challenge of shifting from traditional methods to using technology. Despite these concerns, Agnes Ravalo, Associate Education Director of NPUC, remains optimistic, saying, “I am happy with these developments because they ensure our schools are prepared to continue without interruption in the face of unexpected circumstances.
Dr. Mary Jane Zabat, the NPUC Education Director, took the initiative to create this NPUC-EMIS, and Mr. Danilo Bosito, the NPUC IT Services Supervisor, developed it. Prior to joining NPUC, Mr. Bosito served as the Department Chair of the Information Technology Department of the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP), bringing with him a wealth of experience that greatly contributed to the development of the system.