Innove, USAID team up to improve quality of education in Mindanao

Innove Communications and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have joined hands to improve the quality of education in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and in neighboring conflict-affected areas in Mindanao (CAAM) through the implementation of various education improvement programs.

In a memorandum of understanding signed recently, both parties agreed to expand and accelerate the effective use of computer and Internet technology in at least 300 selected public secondary schools in the region under the "CLIC/Innove Partnership Program" for ARMM and CAAM schools.

Specifically, USAID, through its Computer Literacy and Internet Connection (CLIC) project being implemented under the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) program, will provide Internet connection to the target schools until Dec. 2006 and will supply the local area network, computers, software, printers, training and education.

Innove, for its part, will offer free installation of Internet connection hardware and a one-year Internet subscription, a reduction of subsequent Internet fees by 50 percent in the second year onward, and a donation of three computers to selected schools.

Innove, a Globe Telecom subsidiary, will also help previously-connected CLIC schools to migrate to the latest Internet technology as needed.

Innove and USAID said that by sharing resources, skills and expertise, they will be able to extend the benefits of their individual programs to a greater number of schools in ARMM and CAAM, thereby, supporting the efforts of the National Government to expand computer literacy and information technology preparedness among students and teachers in the area.

The two organizations also plan to initiate similar activities that will expand the training opportunities for teachers and students, as well as assist schools in implementing a sustainability plan.

"We are committed to supporting the socioeconomic development of Mindanao. And one critical area of concern which warrants assistance from the business community is education, particularly in ARMM and CAAM which are suffering from poor literacy rate caused by poverty, limited access to schools, long-standing armed conflict and an historically unstable peace and order situation," said Gil B. Genio, Innove’s chief executive officer.

He added: "Through innovative partnerships like what we have with USAID, we hope to upgrade the skills of both the teachers and students and equip them with basic information and communications technology (ICT) skills and competencies that will allow them to become globally competitive."

On the other hand, US Amb. Francis Ricciardone, a former US school teacher, noted that computer and Internet skills would give the students an expanded opportunity to find high quality employment and to become global entrepreneurs.

"Narrowing the digital divide between schools in Mindanao and elsewhere - both in the Philippines and the rest of the world - is important and vital, both as a means of equalizing educational opportunity and expanding access to worldwide information and as a tool for economic development and global citizenship," Ricciardone said.