Globe advances tech-enhanced educ.in Central Visayas public schools

CEBU, Philippines - Globe strengthens its lead in providing ICT- enhanced education programs to public schools in Central Visayas where there is limited access to information and communication technology (ICT).

Over the years, Globe Bridging Communities (Globe BridgeCom) has embarked on projects that help enrich the learning experience of both students and teachers.

These initiatives include Text2Teach for elementary students, Internet-in-Schools Program (ISP) for high school students and Global Filipino Teachers (GFT) Program for teachers.

These, coupled with various other support initiatives for education such as grants, computer and book donations, and scholarships form part of the initiatives of Globe to provide students and teachers to make them globally competitive.

“Globe is committed to be a relevant and innovative leader in maximizing ICT for education in the public school.  This year, we will further strengthen our advocacy to champion education.  We reaffirm and renew our commitment to continue to deliver relevant Globe BridgeCom programs that will change the lives of young people in Central Visayas,” said Globe corporate social responsibility (CSR) head Jeffery Tarayao.

The Text2Teach program provides teachers with a cellular phone downloaded with more than 380 education videos in Science, Math, English and Values that teachers can use in class.

Today, close to a million students from 282 public elementary schools in Quezon City, Manila; Isabela; Ilocos Sur; Batangas; Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; Antique, Cagayan de Oro City; Maguindanao; Cotabato City; North and South Cotabato; Sharif Kabunsuan; Cagayan Valley; Benguet and Pangasinan are able to use Text2Teach.

The Text2Teach program is in partnership with the Text2Teach consortium which includes Nokia, Ayala Foundation and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO)-INNOTECH. Globe is the sole telecom service provider for Text2Teach.

The ISP, on the other hand, provides one year free Globe Broadband Internet access to schools all over the country.  Since 2001, ISP has brought internet connectivity to some 950 schools nationwide.

“Over the years, Central Visayas and Cebu in particular has been a major supporter of Globe BridgCom’s education initiatives,” Tarayao said.

The first school that Globe connected via ISP is Tayud National High School in Cebu which was connected in 2001.

“Additionally, Lapu-Lapu City is also one of the first cities to have all its public high schools connected to the internet. It is also in Cebu where we piloted various connectivity platforms that we used for ISP.  These initiatives could not have been possible without the partnership and support of the provincial government of Cebu , the various city and municipal governments,” said Tarayao.

To date, Globe has historically connected 214 public high schools in the Province of Cebu. — Johanna T. Natavio/WAB (THE FREEMAN)