APEC member countries push for ICT-based basic education

CEBU, Philippines - Local and foreign delegates from Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member countries have convened in Mactan Island yesterday to concretize plans that would strengthen basic education and learning through information communication technology.

The conference, spearheaded by the Department of Education and APEC, ends today. It is anchored on the theme, “APEC Information and Communication Technology for Education Expo 2010.”

The specific objective of the gathering is to prepare the youth for better education and market opportunities. Educators, academicians, development practitioners and policymakers are taking part in the event.

Since 2008, DepEd has initiated efforts and conducted specific activities aimed at actualizing its goal for an ICT-led basic education.

DepEd has created an ICT Governance Committee tasked to implement its strategic plan. It also managed to engage local and global education stakeholders that advocate for genuine ICT-supported basic education.

DepEd said the value of ICT to education is now fast becoming a reality all over the world. In fact, many foreign educators and classroom teachers are extolling the virtue and necessity of technological application to learning.

APEC Learning Community of Builders or ALCoB Philippines, Incorporated has planned to organize local and international conferences, dialogues and workshops that shall serve as a venue for discussing levels of cooperation and sharing of ICT education-enhancing knowledge and expertise among APEC economies.

Collaboration with other education stakeholders will also be heightened in order to benefit local ICT for education initiatives.

ALCoB Philippines Inc. was formed by some of the country’s leaders in the education sector such as DepEd Assistant Secretary Jesus Mateo, DepEd Undersecretary Ramon Bacani and Dr. Alexander Flor, the founding Dean and Professor, Faculty of Information and Communication Studies, U.P. Open University. — THE FREEMAN