PhD Math Ed candidate Vitus Paul de Jesus wins ASCEND 2024

Mr Vitus Paul De Jesus, a PhD Mathematics Education candidate of the Department of Mathematics and Ateneo OADGP scholar, received the Ateneo Socio-Civic Engagement for National Development (ASCEND) Award for the Graduate Research Category during the Paghahandog 2024: A Celebration of Leadership and Service held last 10 June 2024 at Ricardo and Dr Rosita Leong Hall Auditorium. Paghahandog 2024 was an occasion to recognize the admirable efforts of Higher Education students who have excelled in sports, socio-civic engagement, leadership, and service, and for their contribution to nation-building.

Mr De Jesus’ research, entitled “Inclusive Geometry Curriculum for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Mainstream Classroom: A Curriculum Adaptation Model”, aimed to conceptualize a curriculum adaptation model using humanistic and scientific approaches to curriculum evaluation which can serve as a scheme to modify mathematics curricula and make it more appropriate and responsive to the deaf and hard-of-hearing students in mainstream mathematics classrooms. This research is a first in mathematics education produced by a student in the Department of Mathematics that addresses the needs of one of the marginalized and underprivileged groups of learners – the deaf and hard-of-hearing students – making this research truly unique, responsive, and very Christian-like.

Mr De Jesus has a big heart for, passion in, and care and concern for the marginalized. He served as a volunteer instructor of mathematics for mainstreamed deaf students in a private school for 5 years and for the Alternative Learning System of DepEd Mandaluyong for 7 years. His experience with these students was what sparked his desire to conduct research that would target the needs of marginalized students, in his case the deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

During the awarding ceremony, Mr De Jesus opened his message of thanks with, “Dr. Angela Fatima Guzon, my adviser, Dr. Catherine Vistro-Yu, our Math Ed program coordinator, the Math Ed Eagles, and of course the good Lord, Mama Mary and San Ignacio – I will always be indebted to them,” thanking them especially for their support and guidance throughout his research journey. He made special mention of DepEd Divisions of Manila and Quezon City for their willingness to participate in his research. He ended his speech by thanking the audience using the sign language.