P800-million Internet labs to be established in public high schools

A group of the country’s largest corporations and foundations last Nov. 28 pledged to raise at total of P800 million to set up Internet laboratories in at least 1,000 public high schools. President Arroyo witnessed the launch of the consortium, called connectEd.ph, at Jose Abad Santos School in Binondo, Manila.

connectEd.ph’s significance lies in the scale of its vision to usher in public high schools into the information age. While many companies and organizations have long recognized the need to introduce computer technology to public school children, this is the first time that resources of this magnitude will be mobilized to create a significant impact on the public school system. Prior to this, instructors faced the daunting task of teaching computer science without the use of actual computers.

At the launch, a visibly amused President Arroyo chatted with students in Batangas, Cebu and Maguindanao where Internet labs have already been setup by connectEd.ph partners. For several minutes, an online conversation ensued among the president and the students indicating how the group’s efforts can help bridge the digital divide.

Working closely with government, connectEd.ph has gained the support of business leaders in the Makati Business Club, Ayala Group of Companies, Sky Foundation, Intel Philippines Mfg. Inc., Microsoft Philippines, League of Corporate Foundations, the Foundation for Information Technology, Education and Development, and Philippine Business for Social Progress. Also part of connectEd.ph are Coca-Cola Philippines, Bato-Balani Foundation, Metrobank Foundation, PH Domain Foundation, Sarmiento Foundation, and Sun Microsystem Philippines.

Observes businessman Vicente Paterno, the private sector co-chairman of the government’s PCs for Public Schools project: "Software from the Philippines is not only used locally but also in other countries. It is a competitive advantage that we must not lose and must try to improve because information technology is one of the few industries where we have an edge."

Future leaders

This early, connectEd.ph has already established nearly 100 pilot Internet laboratories in public high schools in Metro Manila and remote areas. It has pledged to help the government’s PCs for Public Schools project in achieving its goal to build 1,000 such facilities all over the country.

It is no mean feat. Only one-fourth of 4,209 public high schools have computers and barely two percent of those have access to the Internet. To address their ICT needs, connectEd.ph must put together all the resources, technical know-how and organizational expertise of its members.

"connectEd.ph is a tremendous undertaking," notes Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II, president and CEO of Ayala Corporation. "It brings together large sums of money and great people to help build computer laboratories in the puboic school system. But now, more than ever, we are committed to provide the tools, skills, and opportunities our country’s future leaders need to thrive in the information revolution."

The consortium is not just donating equipment such as personal computers, peripherals, and software. It is also providing free Internet access and establishing local area networks in partner schools. Moreover, it is giving free technical training to students and teachers in order to raise their computer literacy. All told, connectEd.ph raises around P800,000 for each Internet laboratory. In return, schools and their communities are only asked to provide space, supplementary funding and support such as utilities and hardware maintenance.

Thus students and faculty of high schools in remote areas arenow learning to use the Internet as learning and teaching tools. Intel Philippines country manager, Ricky Banaag observes that "Filipinos are naturally adept in acquiring IT skills." It is this competitive advantage that connectEd.ph hopes to sustain.