4 public schools to have free basic computer program

Four public secondary schools in the city are beneficiaries of the free basic computer program being offered by Asian College of Science and Technology Foundation, Inc. in collaboration with the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company and Utopia Café.

The program, dubbed as "Infotech Outreach", was launched last Saturday. Beneficiaries include Cebu City National Science High School, Don Sergio Memorial National High School, Abellana National High School, and Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial National High School.

Cebu City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Leonilo Oliva said students and teachers from each of the four schools who are computer illiterate would benefit from the program.

Among the top consideration in choosing the teacher and student-beneficiaries of the program is the absence of computers at home, according to Oliva.

The beneficiaries will have to complete the total six sessions, to be conducted only for four hours each session every Saturday at Utopia Café starting on July 9, in order to earn a certificate of proficiency in basic computer.

Those who will fail to attend two sessions are still allowed to continue attending the next succeeding sessions but will no longer be granted a certificate while those who will miss three sessions shall be automatically dropped from the program, Oliva said.

Further, Oliva said the basic computer program serves as the community outreach program of PLDT that acts as the coordinator. Utopia Café, on the other hand, provides the venue while ACSAT provides the computer instructors.