Global Filipino Schools launched in ARMM

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The Department of Education and Globe Telecom recently launched a partnership on Internet learning interventions to address illiteracy in the Philippines' southern provinces.

Globe’s senior vice president for communications Maria Yolanda Crisanto and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao regional education secretary Rasol Mitmug Jr. led the symbolic launching of the Global Filipino Schools (GFS) program at the ARMM capitol.

Kickoff rites were held along with the daylong food festival in the five model ethnic Yakan, Tausug, Meranao, Maguindanao and Samah villages inside the 32-hectare ARMM compound southeast of Cotabato City.

The GFS is a long-term “21st century education approach” intended to boost the quality of education in public schools not just in the autonomous region but in other provinces as well, Crisanto said.

The program provides free Internet to schools for learners and teachers to have access to online learning and other information facets.

The GFS package for ARMM includes proficiency training for public school teachers on use of telecommunications technology to improve the quality of education in the region.

“With ARMM on board, we are very happy to say that the GFS project is already on the 17th of 17 regions in the Philippines,” Crisanto said.

The Hataman administration has spent large amounts of infrastructure funds in the past five years for school buildings in remote barrios and for concrete roads along campuses to provide children easy access to learning institutions.