Intel links with Tevsaphil to promote digital literacy

CEBU, Philippines - Leading technology innovator Intel Philippines yesterday announced its collaboration with the Technical Vocational Schools and Association of the Philippines (Tevsaphil) to promote its vision to produce a tech-voc workforce that is digitally literate.

The partnership, aimed at bridging the digital divide in the country, also targets to accelerate change, improve lives and transform Philippine competitiveness by equipping all tech-voc learners with the digital literacy skills to prepare them for the 21st century workplace, according to Yvonne Flores, corporate affairs manager for Intel Philippines.

In a press briefing yesterday, Flores said the Philippines has to adapt to the increasing demand for highly skilled technical workers across the Asia Pacific region as spurred by the rapidly developing digital economy.

“Digital literacy is quickly becoming an important component in the development of competitive and robust economies across the region, and governments are urged to invest in education and provide more employment opportunities now more than ever,” said Flores in a situationer.

Digitally literate individuals have better chances at landing on jobs and have improved earning capacity, Flores added.

The nationwide initiative will integrate Intel Easy Steps course across the technical vocation training programs offered by Tevsaphil’s nearly 4,000 member schools in the Philippines.

Before this new development, the Intel Easy Steps program, through various partners, have already reached a total of 54,000 grassroots learners and over 1,200 trainers.

The program teaches adult learners basic computer skills such as word processing, spreadsheets, multimedia, internet and e-mail, and trains them how to use these skills for entrepreneurship and employment.

“We have seen great success from Intel Easy Steps in the Philippines, and we are very grateful for the continued support of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. We’re hopeful that with this complementary partnership with Tevsaphil, we will be able to reach more tech-voc learners,” said Flores.

Chefs or welders, for instance, will be given access to basic computer training on modules that are relevant to their chosen vocations. Officials said getting certification on digital literacy is an added edge for any tech-voc graduate in a labor market that is dominated by technologically-savvy hopefuls.

Alex Escaño, chairman and president of Tevsaphil, stressed the importance of getting knowledge on the use of ICT tools like computers, tablets, word processing, e-mail and the internet in delivering quality services in different sectors of the economy.

Escaño said their partnership with Intel will keep them on track with their own vision of creating a Filipino workforce that can readily harness the power of technology for employment purposes.

Central Visayas currently hosts around 260 technical vocational education and training institutions. Based on the 2010 data, these schools and training centers logged a total enrollment of 177,000, eventually generating roughly 142,500 graduates in that year alone.

Intel and Tevsaphil have already identified four regional centers in the Philippines that will help carry out the goal of this partnership. Two centers will be situated in Luzon and one each for Visayas and Mindanao.

High school graduates, as well as other clustered markets like groups of professionals, elderly women, etc., will be the initiative’s target market.  (FREEMAN)