07 AprOne of the other blogs devoted to the virtual

One of the other blogs devoted to the virtual school is to decide on Schools Online (DAOS) note that this blog is no longer available . I know  t think it would be unfair to characterize this as a blog with a specific agenda (like most blogs, websites and even do). On the page purposes, it has two major goals:I ‘ll post more about this attempt to destory public education, then I  sure). I  Trackbacks I posted on their blog and I  confident that they can correct me if I wrong.and at the federal level?
-Can the e-learning to help students make progress towards the objectives of the No Child Left Behind? most burning right now? And, do you have any thoughts about your responses to those two questions?

If you fall more into the educator category, which two questions do you see as the most burning right now? And, do you have any thoughts about your responses to those two questions?

Tags: virtual school , cyber school , charter school , high school , education

10 NovI’m going to take a moment to not be modest

Lara
December 2, 2009 at 11:53 pm

Okay, I’m going to take a moment to not be modest at all and say that vocab is one of the parts of my job I do really well. And most of the reason why I do it well is because I make my kids understand those words inside and out, mostly by assessing them in lots of ways. They have to be able to match it to synonyms, match it to antonyms, define it, use it in a sentence, and/or recognize whether it is being used correctly in someone else’s sentence. I had numerous students (and parents of students) who had me last year come thank me because of how much their vocab scores improved on SATs and other standardized tests.

All that to say that I totally agree with you – memorizing a nonsense (to them) definition is useless if they don’t actually know what the word means. Oh those dumb teenagers. How we love them anyway.

Reply

3 Comments.
Edward Carson
November 17, 2009 at 9:00 am

I keep a file of old letters, notes, cards, emails, etc in my desk for those tough days. I pull it out when I am having one to remind me that I love this. For me, its usually not students that make my days tough. You are a great teacher. That is clear.

Reply

1 Comment.
Edward Carson
October 12, 2009 at 9:02 am

I have heard of a number of progressive schools that do this. I assume you still assign a letter, right? Man, I have a hard enough time getting letter grades turned in on time. I do think your method is a more reliable one.

Reply

26 OctOne of my doctoral students, Kelly Unger

One of my doctoral students, Kelly Unger (see Kel Tech: KTI ), sent me this article a while ago – and since I have nothing else to post today (I have stuff, I just don’t have the time to write it with a number of irons in the fire with near-term deadlines), here it is:

Orlando Sentinel
http://mobile.orlandosentinel.com/detail.jsp?key=172060&full=1

In Florida, virtual school could make classrooms history
Dave Weber
Sentinel Staff Writer
November 10, 2008

Thousands of Florida students may ditch public elementary and middle schools next year in favor of online classes at home — an option that could change the face of public education.

A new law that takes effect next fall requires every district in the state to set up an online school for kindergarten through eighth-grade students. They won’t have to get on the bus — or even get out of their PJs — to head to school at the family computer.

A handful of elementary- and middle-school students already are experimenting with virtual classes, withdrawing from regular schools and enrolling instead for online instruction. Students take a full range of courses, including reading, writing, math, science, history, art, music and even physical education.

“I am so excited about this that my goal is to go all the way through 12th grade,” said Joni Fussell, whose 8-year-old daughter has been studying at the kitchen computer in their Altamonte Springs home since January.

Taylor Fussell is enrolled in the state’s experimental online elementary school, which will be greatly expanded through the new law. The state has had online instruction for high-school students for 10 years, but it’s mostly used by those who want to take an extra course they can’t squeeze in at school.

The law passed by the Legislature last spring is designed to give parents more choice in how their elementary- and middle-school children are educated full time. Online instruction joins home schooling, charter schools and Florida’s on-again, off-again experiment with vouchers to private schools as a way of broadening the selection.

“The beauty of this is it is another choice for parents,” said Sonia Esposito, director of school choice for Osceola schools.

The state will pay for online instruction, providing districts about $6,000 per student — what they would get for a student who showed up at a regular school. But savings are expected in bus transportation, school construction and other areas.

All-or-none option

For those who take advantage of virtual instruction in elementary and middle school, it’s an all-or-none proposition. Unlike high school, if they sign up for online classes, they can’t continue to take some of their courses in regular schools and can’t compete in organized sports.

Fussell said she switched to online instruction at home because she was frustrated with her inability to influence Taylor’s progress at Altamonte Springs Elementary. Taylor, who had fallen behind in reading, is rapidly catching up online.

“If I am struggling, I just practice more,” she said. “And I get to stay home with my mom.”

A teacher working out of her home at an undisclosed Florida location supervises instruction for Taylor and dozens of other elementary students across the state. She monitors their work, talks with students individually online and holds virtual class meetings to discuss particular topics.

Back in the kitchen, Joni Fussell keeps Taylor on task, although there is flexibility for running errands or doing chores, as long as Taylor spends about five hours a day doing schoolwork. The program requires an adult at home to aid with instruction.

Fussell has everything she needs to supervise her daughter’s education. Last summer a delivery truck brought boxes of textbooks, work sheets, study materials and other classroom supplies, right down to a compass, magnifying glass and other nifty items for basic science experiments. Older kids even get microscopes.

Although the Fussells had a computer, it wasn’t necessary for them to own one. Kids who don’t have computers will get them free, along with free online service.

What’s missing, says Fussell, is 18 kids competing for one teacher’s attention, boring downtime in the classroom, distracting discipline incidents and playground bullying.

Students are tested, get report cards and must take the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. The virtual schools will receive letter grades from the state, and poorly performing providers will be weeded out.

Next year Fussell plans to have a second student at home, when her younger daughter Savannah, 5, a kindergartner at Altamonte Elementary, joins the virtual school. State law requires that students must previously have been in a regular public school before switching to the new virtual school, a provision that shuts out students who have been home-schooled for years.

‘I miss my friends’

Students, parents and educators say one drawback of virtual education is that kids studying at home don’t have the ready socialization opportunities they have at school.

“I miss my friends,” Taylor Fussell said.

But her mother builds Taylor’s social skills with outside activities such as church or playing with neighborhood children. The online school also has virtual clubs — chess club is one — and plans other activities such as spelling bees and science fairs.

Districts can come up with their own online elementary- and middle-school curriculum. But most districts, including Orange and Seminole, say the task is too daunting and they instead expect to contract the online instruction to existing virtual schools for a fee. Two now operate in the state: Florida Virtual School in partnership with Connections Academy, and Florida Virtual Academy, which the Fussells use. Others are expected to be approved by the Department of Education this winter.

Officials have no idea how many students will switch to the new online elementary and middle schools.

But if Florida Virtual School’s online courses for high-school students are any indication, it could take off. That program went from students completing 6,765 half-credit courses in 2001 to 137,450 courses last school year.

Of 44 states with online learning, more than half offer full or part-time elementary programs, with as many as 45,000 students taking part nationwide. Florida is among states leading in the movement.

Districts say they will decide by spring who will get the contracts for online instruction and that parents will be permitted to sign up their kids soon after.

Who gets to learn online *Students who are residents of the school district. *Those who have attended a Florida public school this year and been enrolled for both the February and October funding counts. Home-schoolers don’t qualify. *Students currently enrolled in the state’s virtual-instruction program. *Kindergarten students, only if they are enrolled in public schools this year for both the October and February funding counts, including Pre-K disabled students, those in the babies-of-teen-parents program and those repeating kindergarten. *A child of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who was transferred to Florida during the past 12 months.

– SOURCES: Florida Department of Education, area school districts

Dave Weber can be reached at 407-320- 0915 or dweber@orlandosentinel.com.

22 OctRemembering Those Who Fought And Those Who Have Died

I thought that I had posted something on this topic on my old personal blog a few years ago, but I wasn’t able to find it anywhere (or on any of my former blogs).

Anyway, today is Remembrance Day in Canada. For those of you who aren’t Canadian, you can get the sense of it here . As I posted in my short note about this last year (see An Act of Remembrance ), today is the reason why we wear poppies on your left lapel in Canada.

It is the reason why we gather to recite the poem…

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

- John McCrae

Simply put, it is the reason we remember. So take time today to think about those who have fought to preserve the freedom that we enjoy today. And at 11:00am today, make sure to observe two minutes of silence.

A Pittance of Time – Terry KellyFinally, let me at include the link for this week’s broadcast of CBC Radio’s Vinyl Cafe: VC: November 8th, 2008 “Remembrance Day” If you don’t have anyone to remember today, like Stuart, just remember George Lawrence Price.

08 OctAnother installment of the funnies

Another installment of the funnies, courtesy of Darren at Teaching and Developing Online.

- Gee I was bad at math.

- When you think your day is bad …Part 8.

- This made me laugh.

- My parenting skills.

- This is the one statistic that is true

- When you think your day is bad … Part 9

- This makes a lot of sense…NOT

- When you think your day is bad … Part 10

- this might be why I don’t camp.

- When you think your Day is Bad … Part 10 (yes, this is a second one with the same title)

Until next week…

Friday Funnies.

Another edition from Darren over at Teaching and Developing Online .

- Some say to do this job you must be insane.

- Now that would be interesting.

- Cartoons are aways wrong

- Reality is so real.

- Fifty percent

Until next week…

Virtual Schooling in the News.

Beginning with the Yahoo! News Alert for virtual school.

Virtual school leads way
The Hendersonville Times-NewsSun, 14 Sep 2008 7:09 AM PDT
Brandon Warren leans back in his chair, staring at the computer screen.

News briefs for September 15
The Danville Advocate-MessengerMon, 15 Sep 2008 8:55 AM PDT
Area news briefs for September 15 regarding Junction City Fire Department, Kentucky Virtual School, Stanford chili cookoff and meetings of the Danville Housing Authority and City of Danville Sister Cities Committee.

Districts move toward online learning
The Elyria Chronicle-TelegramSun, 14 Sep 2008 10:09 PM PDT
Remember carrying big, heavy books and using typewriters at school? Well, those days are long gone. Today, technology, such as the online textbooks used in Avon and “virtual computers” being tried in Avon Lake, are changing the way students learn. Both high-tech tools are being rolled out this school year. “Our children [...]

Michael Horn Will Offer Keynote Address at NACOL’s Virtual School Symposium
PR Newswire via Yahoo! NewsTue, 16 Sep 2008 12:30 PM PDT
The North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL) is pleased to announce that author Michael Horn will be the Virtual School Symposium keynote speaker on Tuesday, October 28 at 8:00 a.m. in Phoenix, AZ. His address is titled, Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns, and his keynote will cover the case studies and themes of his book of the same …

Correction: School grades story
Miami HeraldTue, 16 Sep 2008 11:23 AM PDT
In a Sept. 9 story about appeals of state school grades, The Associated Press erroneously reported the name of the school that had its grade raised. It was the Florida Virtual Academy, not the Florida Virtual School. The Florida Virtual School is not graded by the state.

Cheyenne district seeks virtual charter school
Billings GazetteThu, 18 Sep 2008 12:03 PM PDT
CHEYENNE – The school district in Cheyenne is looking into starting a virtual charter school for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Students enrolled in the school would take classes online. …

Cheyenne district seeks virtual charter school
Billings GazetteThu, 18 Sep 2008 11:53 AM PDT
CHEYENNE – The school district in Cheyenne is looking into starting a virtual charter school for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Cheyenne district seeks virtual charter school
KIFI Idaho FallsThu, 18 Sep 2008 11:16 AM PDT
Associated Press – September 18, 2008 2:06 PM ET CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – The school district in Cheyenne is looking into starting a virtual charter school for students in kindergarten through…

Next the Yahoo! News Alert for cyber school.

Board briefed on cyber school
Lebanon Daily NewsFri, 12 Sep 2008 9:31 PM PDT
FREDERICKSBURG — Nate Byler, coordinator of the Northern Lebanon High School Virtual Academy, presented the Northern Lebanon School District board with a progress report on the V3
PA Cyber Charter School Weathers Remnants of Hurricane Ike
PR Newswire via Yahoo! FinanceWed, 17 Sep 2008 2:08 PM PDT
The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School continued nearly normal operations in spite of power outages which closed school headquarters for two days as remnants of Hurricane Ike blew through Western Pennsylvania.

Moving on to the Google News Alert for virtual school.

Virtual school leads way
BlueRidgeNow.com – Hendersonville,NC,USA
The school has 35 students, mostly freshmen and sophomores, who take high school courses through North Carolina Virtual Public School. …
See all stories on this topic

School board approves new online high school
Siuslaw News – Florence,OR,USA
For each class, students participate in a “virtual classroom” where they interact with the instructor and other students by using a two-way …
See all stories on this topic

Obama, McCain Push Different Visions for Schools, Teachers and …
NewsHour – USA
On September 10 he delivered a major education policy speech in the key election state of Ohio, calling for big increases in federal school spending and …
See all stories on this topic

Finally, the Google News Alert for cyber school.

New ice rink opens in Campbelltown
The Patriot-News – PennLive.com – Harrisburg,PA,USA
He attends cyberschool, to give him more time to practice the sport he dreams will some day take him to the Olympics. With the opening this weekend of the …
See all stories on this topic

Madison Central school enrollment is up
MADISONet.com – Madison,SD,USA
Chester Area School dropped from 373 students last year and now boasts 365. This doesn’t include the cyber school enrollment, which went down from 248 to …
See all stories on this topic

Cyber high school completes transformation
Newport News Times – Newport,OR,USA
By Terry Dillman of the News-Times The Oregon Council for Online Learning (OCOL), the board of directors for Insight School of Oregon (ISO), …
See all stories on this topic

22 SepThere is an old saying in bluegrass: “We tune because we care.”

drtombibey
April 18, 2008 at 2:08 pm

Wow chili! You do have your hands full.

There is an old saying in bluegrass: “We tune because we care.”

I guess something similar is true for folks who doctor, write, or teach, but that kind of e-mail is bound to test your patience.

Dr. B

Reply

9 Comments.
Clix
April 13, 2008 at 7:50 am

Hm. ARE they pedagogical gold? If, after showing these emails to students and demonstrating what’s wrong with them, you still get similar emails… is it really working?

(This is something I wrestle with A LOT. Sometimes I’ll think that lesson X has worked better than lesson Y… but you know, it’s never with the same group of students, so maybe the lesson X group was more attentive and would’ve done just as well with lesson Y…)

I don’t think you’re in water that’s ETHICALLY murky, that’s for sure. Teachers use prior student work as samples all the time, and that’s stuff that’s turned in for a grade, not for use as an example. As long as you leave out identifying details, you’re fine.

OTOH, there’s something to be said against ridicule in general. I don’t think it’s an effective teaching method. The students who most need to see your real point – that stupid mistakes should be avoided – are the ones most likely to get caught up in the vicarious embarrassment and tune out what you really want them to hear.

Anyway, to make a long story short (well, short-ER at least!) I just don’t know. I think mostly it depends on your delivery.

Reply

03 AugBeginning with the Yahoo! News Alert virtual school

Beginning with the Yahoo! News Alert virtual school.

Home, for some, is where the school is Villages Daily Sun Tue, 07 Nov 2006 6:18 AM PST

BUSHNELL — Children taught at home miss out on so many experiences that children who attend public school get to experience every day. Their parents are thrilled about it.

Moving on to the Yahoo! News Alert for cyber school.

Santorum, Casey race close; voters explain why Standard Speaker Sat, 04 Nov 2006 9:09 PM PST

Issues such as war in Iraq, taxes and immigration draw voters to either Rick Santorum or Bob Casey in the race for the U.S. Senate, but so do personal experiences.

General News Clarion News Tue, 07 Nov 2006 5:08 AM PST

KNOX – The Keystone School Board Oct. 16 agreed to enter a $7,500 agreement with the Intermediate Unit 5 for services aimed at drawing students back to the district who have enrolled in cyber charter schools.

Casey for Senate York Daily Record Mon, 06 Nov 2006 11:21 PM PST

Robert Casey is a better fit ideologically for Pennsylvania than Rick Santorum. ·Residency: Sen. Rick Santorum has been hammered because he lives most of the year in a Virginia house with his family – rather than a modest home near Pittsburgh he also owns.

The Cyber School Option WNEP 16 Pennsylvania Wed, 08 Nov 2006 12:58 PM PST

Some students in our area are getting their education not in the traditional classroom but over the internet.

Western Pa. voters show local passion in ousting Santorum, Hart phillyburbs.com Fri, 10 Nov 2006 1:11 PM PST

PITTSBURGH – The ballroom was decorated with red, white and blue balloons and posters of a smiling U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. But as his supporters waited anxiously for the results of his race with challenger Bob Casey on Tuesday night, the reality of what was to come started to settle in.

Something new this week, from eSchool News.

Study: Virtual-school enrollment explodesNov 7 FULL STORY

Enrollment in K-12 online courses in the United states has exploded in the past year, increasing by as much as 50 percent in some states, according to a new report from the North American Council for …

Similarly, from the ASCD SmartBrief.

Report: Virtual school enrollment soars

Thirty-eight states now regulate or sponsor virtual learning programs, while enrollment in online K-12 courses has soared over the past year, finds a report released by the North American Council for Online Learning at its annual Virtual School Symposium. The group also released the results of a separate survey that provided snapshots of virtual learning programs in 30 different countries. eSchool News (free registration) (11/7)

Minnesota district gets a boost from virtual schools

Launching two online schools for students statewide four years ago has turned out to be an enrollment and funding boon for Houston, Minn., a small district that until that time had been slowly but steadily losing students. Superintendent Kim Ross says the initiative — which has attracted about 850 virtual students, each accompanied by about $5,000 in state aid — has shielded the district from the fiscal pressures most districts face. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul) (free registration) (11/9)

Next, the Google News Alert for virtual school.

Group behind Missouri’s virtual K-12 school launches website News-Leader.com – Springfield,MO,USA

… start offering K-12 courses online, has launched a website and an outreach campaign to keep families informed of developments with Missouri’s virtual school. …

And finally from the Google News Alert for cyber school.

Santorum, Casey race close; voters explain why Standard Speaker – Hazleton,PA,USA

… The children were enrolled in a cyber school until a Democrat on the school board in Penn Hills objected because the school district paid the tuition at the …

Cyber school support Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – Pittsburgh,PA,USA

Cyber school is public school. My child happens … I am well aware not everyone should home-school or cyber-school their children. I don’t …

Tags: virtual school , cyber school , high school , education

11 JunSaintseester, you are right on about the kids having to grab on.

Kim
February 1, 2008 at 10:08 pm

Saintseester, you are right on about the kids having to grab on. I deal with that struggle everyday in my classroom, and they’re only 10!

First off, I love teaching. I love my kiddos, and I doubt I will ever do anything outside of education. That being said, I believe our education system as it exists now is irretrievably broken, and we must throw out all of the “this is the way we do it” and “it’s their fault” (whoever they are) garbage.

We need to be courageous enough to think outside the box, stop trying to pander to special interest groups (including the unions) and stumping for votes. It’s not about power, privilege, prestige or pride. It’s about KIDS. Once we get that through our thick heads and ruthlessly seek only what is best for them, no matter the cost – personal or financial – we might have a chance.

Reply

3 Comments.
saintseester
January 23, 2008 at 10:02 am

“Intellectual simulation” – ha, ha!

Reply

4 Comments.
Sooza
January 3, 2008 at 8:44 pm

Wow! Kizz and I must be on the same wavelength. I was going to mention the former classmate as well, but she beat me to it! I’m sure he’d be willing to talk strategy with you.

I have to admit, though, I still don’t see why the hybrid class even makes it on the schedule. I can’t really see a good situation for it, unless you have incredibly motivated students.

On that note — good luck!

Reply

17 AprI heard the failing story I immediately blamed it on the teacher

Kizz
January 30, 2007 at 9:29 am

I’d also like to know what it is about us that when I heard the failing story I immediately blamed it on the teacher/school (how did he get where he is without passing, why weren’t they helping him?) and you immediately blamed it on the student (why did he choose to fail over and over and why is he looking forward to it again?). We could both be right, there’s nothing in the story that indicates either way, we both jumped to conclusion, but why did we jump to such polarly opposite ones?

“I didn’t jump to conclusions. I took a small step, and there conclusions were.”
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Reply

3 Comments.
nhfalcon
January 28, 2007 at 9:13 pm

Maybe this says something about me and my qualifications (or lack thereof) as a teacher, but are you a teacher or a drill sergeant? It is your job to do everything you can to impart knowledge, not motivate a bunch of lazy-ass time wasters. If some of your “learners” – and I use that term loosely, based on what I’ve read about this bunch – choose not to absorb that knowledge, then that’s their fault and their problem, not yours. They’re in college now, not grammar school. They’re supposedly adults. If they choose to fail, then fail ‘em. It’s their money (or more than likely Mommy’s and Daddy’s) they’re wasting, not yours.

I could understand your concerns if they were grammar or junior high students, maybe even high school students, but these are allegedly mature adults – let ‘em deal with the consequences of their actions.

Reply

02 AprSoybeans: part of solution to make Philippine education reforms work?

If you think our milk and dairy supplies can alleviate our malnutrition problem, especially in the rural areas, think again. And unlike soybeans that may be harvested within a year, dairy livestock have to grow over a number of years before they produce milk. Read the following report:

http://www.thecattlesite.com/articles/1779/philippines-dairy-and-products-annual-2008

Philippines Dairy and Products Annual 2008

Despite continuing government and industry efforts to increase dairy production, Philippine milk production remains at less than one percent of total dairy requirements with import filling most of the supply, reports USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service. A link to the full report is also provided.

Executive Summary

Despite continuing government and industry efforts to increase dairy production, Philippine milk production remains at less than one percent of total dairy requirements with import filling most of the supply. Imports of milk and milk products are expected to slowdown this year due to continuing high world prices. Dairy products are the country’s second largest agricultural import.

Production

Data from the Philippine National Dairy Authority (NDA) shows that in terms of volume, domestic milk production grew 3.44 percent from 12,870 metric tons in 2006 to 13,320 metric tons last year. Value of dairy production in 2007 amounted to P387.11 million ($7.9 million at current exchange rate1). Local milk production is projected to continue to increase due to the growing demand for fresh milk. The country produces less than one percent of its total annual dairy requirement and imports the balance.

As of January 1, 2008, there were an estimated 28,191 dairy animals, an increase of about 8 percent from the previous year, comprised of dairy cattle (13,864), water buffalo (13,416) and dairy goats (911). Dairy cattle numbers, in particular, increased by nearly 15 percent due mainly to the on going herd build-up programs of the NDA. Dairy animal numbers are expected to continue increasing by 500-1,000 annually, due to this government program as well as increasing farmgate prices for milk.

Female breeders or dams accounted for about 58 percent of total cattle and carabao (water buffalo) population, respectively. The rest were bulls, heifers, yearling and calves. On the other hand, goat female breeders comprised 52 percent of total dairy goat inventory, and the rest classified under kids and bucks.

Despite an increase in the number of dairy animals, the average milking capacity per animal remains low due mainly to inadequate feeding and poor animal management practices. Milk production of NDA-assisted dairy projects in 2007 was estimated at 9.27 million MT or 70 percent of national milk production.

The average farmgate price of raw cow’s milk rose by 11.76 percent to P19/liter ($0.42/li) in 2007 from P17/liter ($0.33/liter) in the previous year, while the price of raw carabao’s milk increased slightly to P45.50/liter ($0.99/li). The price of raw goat’s milk increased by 6.06 percent from P33/liter ($0.64/li) in 2006 to P35/liter ($0.76/li) last year.

According to trade sources, retail prices of local fresh milk increased by about 4.4 percent per year from P45/liter2 ($0.87/li) in 2002 to P55/liter ($1.19/li) in 2007. Retail prices of UHT milk on the other hand grew by as much as 10.3 percent per year from P39/liter ($0.76/li) in 2002 to P63/liter ($1.36/li) in 2007.

Basically, there are four farm types in the Philippine producing raw milk: unorganized smallholder producers, cooperative smallholder producers; government and commercial farms. Both smallholder and cooperative producers allocate for home consumption and home-based processing. Milk from smallholder producers and are members of cooperatives is usually consolidated in a collection center and then delivered to a processing plant. There are at least 16 dairy processors in the country. The bulk of raw milk produced in government farms are processed in government-owned processing facilities and are sold to rural consumers. Fresh milk from commercial farms is sold to commercial processors for processing. Among the major suppliers to the coffee shops are milk processors from Batangas and Laguna. Other milk suppliers are importers of UHT milk, mostly coming from Australia and New Zealand. Large dairy companies have milk processing facilities but do tool packaging of their UHT milk from New Zealand. These companies use their known milk brands in the local market but use imported milk (Food and Agribusiness Monitor, University of Asia and the Pacific).

Consumption

The Philippines, with an estimated population of 86 million, growing annually at 2.36 percent, is a large market for milk and milk products. Dairy products are the country’s second largest agricultural import after wheat. The country’s dairy industry, which sources 99 percent of its inputs from abroad, is estimated to generate sales of up to $1 billion annually. The Philippines is now the 3rd largest market for U.S. dairy products, after Mexico and Canada. Total dairy exports last year reached $152 million, up nearly 58 percent from 2006. The top US dairy exports to the Philippines in 2007 were: nonfat dry milk powder ($100 million), whey ($23 million) and cheese ($4.3 million).

In 2007, NDA estimated total domestic dairy requirements to be about 2.635 MMT, growing at about 2 percent yearly. According to the latest Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) survey, per capita milk consumption increased from 16 kg/year in 2002 to 19 kg/year in 2003.

Over the last few years, numerous dairy cooperatives have sprung up in various regions of the country. About half of local milk production, according to NDA, is absorbed in the local communities where it is produced. The other half goes to school and community milk feeding programs co-funded by local government units. With dairy production in the country being more community-based, maintaining the quality of fresh milk becomes a major concern due to the lack of dairy processing facilities and milk delivery vehicles.

Trade

Dairy products are the country’s second largest agricultural import after wheat. In 2007, imports of milk and milk products declined by about 2 percent in liquid milk equivalent (LME), from 1,733 MMT in 2006 to 1,740 MMT last year. While the value of total milk exports grew by as much as 43 percent last year due mainly to the significant rise in world market prices of dairy products which started in 2006 and a slowdown in global milk production. The major country suppliers by volume were New Zealand with 42 percent share of the total imports; followed by the United States with 18 percent and Australia at 13 percent.

Non Fat Dry Milk (NFDM) and Whole Milk Powder (WMP) imports comprise about 58 percent of total milk imports. NFDM and WMP imports declined by about 4 percent and 6 percent, respectively in 2007. Liquid milk imports, on the other hand, increased by about 17 percent by volume in 2007 as a result of increasing domestic demand for fresh milk and liquid milk particularly by specialty coffee shops. Imports of butter and other dairy spread also increased by about 26 percent while imports of cheese increased by nearly 20 percent in 2007. Imports of dairy products in the first half of 2008 have fallen by as much as 14 percent and are expected to continue to slowdown for the rest of the year due to high world prices.

Total dairy exports increased by 8 percent in 2007 with exports of whole milk powder comprising about 95 percent of the total volume . The main countries of destination were Indonesia (51 percent) and Malaysia (26 percent); other export markets include Thailand and Vietnam in 2007.

Exports of dairy products from January to June 2008 grew by 12 percent by volume and as much as 47 percent in value. The re-export of dairy products to other Asian countries is expected to remain strong.

Policy

The Philippine DA continues to prioritize the development of the Philippine dairy industry, recognizing the growing demand for fresh milk by the specialty coffee shops, hotels and restaurants as well as by the local government units for their milk feeding programs. While the DA accepts that Philippines cannot compete in the powdered milk ma rket, it believes that it can focus on supplying fresh milk to the market.

The National Dairy Authority, an attached agency of the Philippine Department of Agriculture, is mandated to ensure the accelerated development of the Philippine dairy industry through policy and program implementation. The NDA aims to accelerate dairy herd build-up and milk production, enhance dairy business through the delivery of technical services at farm and enterprise levels, increase the coverage of milk feeding programs to reduce malnutrition and mobilize broad support for local milk consumption. The NDA implements the following four main programs:

1. Dairy Business Enhancement – inculcates enterprise orientation along the supply chain from farm to market. Includes training programs to establish effective business models to assist participants to think business and profits and not merely productivity

2. Herd Build-up Program – increase local dairy stocks and ensure good animal performance. Supervises animal infusion from importation, compliance with quarantine procedures, distribution and provision of technical services, as well as strengthening of the animal loan program of Quedancor. In 2006, 615 dairy animals were imported by NDA from New Zealand for distribution to various dairy associations

3. Milk Feeding Program – the NDA Milk Feeding Program (MFP) provides a steady flow of income to local dairy farmers and cooperatives as well as used to address the problem of malnutrition in children. In cooperation with dairy cooperatives, partnerdonors such as local government units and other entities, the NDA undertakes milk feeding projects to raise the nutritional level of malnourished children. Improvement rates are monitored accordingly. Local Milk Trusts are created to facilitate payment to the farmers. A Philippine Milk Fund has been established through a public -private effort to widen the coverage of the NMFP.

4. Milk Quality – in June 2005, the NDA’s Central Milk Testing Laboratory was accredited the Bureau of Food and Drug (BFAD) to conduct testing for milk quality and animal health. Following accreditation, the NDA began charging fees for its laboratory services and milk quality assistance and milk formulation standardization for milk feeding programs. The NDA Quality Assurance department was also created to disseminate quality standards and closely monitor quality procedures at the milk collection centers, milk plants and distribution points.

Marketing

Metro Manila remains as the major market for fresh milk classified into business and consumer markets. The business markets include the institutional markets and the retail sector such as coffee shops, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and small retailers. Meanwhile, the consumer markets include households and schools through the milk feeding program of the government.

The main target of local milk processors are the institutional buyers like coffee shops. Specialty coffee shops are good markets because of the continuing trend towards coffee consumption as a lifestyle in the country. Local suppliers are enjoying this market as most coffee shops demand local fresh milk for their coffee concoctions because of its superior taste and ability to promote foaming compared to UHT milk.

The specialty coffee shop industry is seen to sustain its growth of 20 percent for the next five years. Players attribute this to the growing awareness of specialty coffee among consumer and the improving image of coffee in general. (Food and Agribusiness Monitor, University of Asia and the Pacific).

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