Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom kicks off its nationwide campaign to provide 21st century education in public learning institutions, with two elementary schools in Cagayan de Oro City as initial beneficiaries.
Indahag Elementary School and Father William F. Masterson, SJ Elementary School will each receive a mobile laboratory, internet connectivity, and teacher training under the Global Filipino School (GFS) program, a long-term educational initiative of Globe that seeks to transform select public schools into centers of excellence in information and communications technology and innovative teaching methods.
“Globe is confident that through shared connectivity and innovative teaching methods which integrates information and communications technology, we can be instrumental in increasing the quality of learning in the public sector,” said Fernando Esguerra, Director for Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.
GFS was first introduced in Bilar, Bohol three years ago. With its success, Globe is now moving to implement the program nationwide to help improve the Philippines’ poor global ranking in education which is currently at 96th place out of 148 countries. In addition, based on a recent report of the Department of Education on national connectivity, less than 25 % of schools have internet access, and even a smaller percentage shares this with teachers and students.
Indahag and Fr. Masterson were chosen as the first beneficiaries of the expanded program upon recommendation of Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI) which now serves as the lead implementing arm of Globe for the teacher training component. The two schools are among the 11 schools in the pipeline with AFI for the establishment of the Teacher Training Institute.
For AFI partner schools, the foundation will also be responsible for driving partnerships with the local government units for infrastructure components of the program such as the computer lab and collaborative working space to help optimize student learning.
All schools under the GFS program are intended to become teacher training hubs and training partners of the Department of Education Division Offices in conducting teaching workshops for neighboring schools of each division. Each GFS will house a mobile laboratory which consists of netbooks/tablets, mobile projectors, printers, and sound systems. Enhanced by internet connectivity, the GFS program will homeroom teachers access to limitless teaching and learning engagements available on the internet that will help to further improve their craft and make learning fun and interesting for the students.
