MAKATI, Philippines -- 2 August 2001 -- To help bridge the digital divide in information technology education in the Philippines, Mirant Philippines Foundation yesterday launched Project EXCEL (Excellence in Science, Technology & Information Technology). With the Cisco Networking Academy Program as the pilot project, EXCEL is part of Mirant's vision of promoting access to information technology education in the country.
The foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cisco Systems, Philippine Science High School (PSHS), a Regional Cisco Networking Academy, and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), to offer the curriculum in seven (7) PSHS campuses. Mirant Foundation Philippines is the social development arm of Mirant Philippines Corporation, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Mirant Corporation.
The Cisco Networking Academy Program is a non-profit-making and internationally recognized IT program available at over 7,800 educational institutions worldwide. So far, it has attracted more than 160,000 students from 131 countries. The program teaches the fundamentals of designing, building and maintaining computer networks.
"The Philippines is the second largest producer of computer services in Asia, next to India, and has a distinct competitive advantage in the Information Technology sector," said Marce Fuller, global President and CEO of Mirant. "To maintain the country's competitive edge, however, there exists a need to intensify investments on IT education by starting at the basic education level."
According to the Department of Education, Culture and Sports and the Department of Science and Technology, only 1,134 of the 3,956 public schools throughout the country today have access to computer hardware and software. Additionally, the available computers are often utilized only for basic computer literacy lessons and to enhance teaching practices. This leaves 71 percent of the high schools without access to any kind of technology. As a result of this lack of resources, the public education system is not in a position to ensure the continuous supply of a globally competitive Filipino workforce in information technology.
A similar study conducted by the PBSP in 1992 showed that among the 10-year-old students in 15 countries, Filipinos scored the lowest in math and science, indicating the poor quality of education in the Philippines.
Through the establishment of Project Excel in seven key locations, Mirant intends to improve the quality of math, science and I.T. education by integrating computer courses into the public science high school curriculum. The proposed curriculum will be developed to include courses in information and communication literacy; as well as network administration and programming by providing access to computer and information technology.
Among the seven schools that will participate in the project, Metro Manila-based Philippine Science High School located in Diliman, Quezon City was appointed to serve as a Regional Academy, responsible for providing training to teachers in local academies as well as updates in the curriculum. The other public schools are located in Goa, Camarines Sur; Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Jaro, Iloilo; Palo, Leyte; Lanao del Norte; and Davao City. These schools were chosen because they possessed infrastructure that would assist in setting up the project as well as their stringent standards in teaching in science, math and English courses.
Each partner organization has been assigned roles to facilitate the smooth implementation of the 17-million-peso program.
The Cisco Networking Academy Program will provide the necessary physical and educational infrastructure to identify magnet and satellite science high schools nationwide for networking and programming; regular capacity-building training for teachers to ensure that the highest standards of education are imparted to students. Mirant Philippines Foundation will provide social arrangements for on-the-job training and internship opportunities to successful participants.
"Cisco believes that in order to boost the Philippines's global competitiveness, we must advocate raising the standards not only of information technology, but education as a whole," said Noel Rivera, Cisco Country Manager for the Philippines. "That's why it's an honor for Cisco to be partnering with Mirant Foundation."
"Cisco will make sure that the teachers will be equipped with the latest technologies and techniques so they can impart the best skills and knowledge to students," said Rivera.
The total cost of the project also includes peripherals, LAN and Internet connectivity, cabling as well as operating costs over the two-year timeline, which will begin in school year 2002-2003.
PBSP, meanwhile, is tasked to monitor and assess the program's development, prepare reports for the donor corporations, provide technical expertise and inputs throughout the program's duration. It has also been asked to facilitate in the purchase and installation of computer laboratory equipment, support Cisco in training the program's instructors, and oversee the smooth integration of the project courses in the school's computer curriculum.
Mirant is confident that PBSP can deliver on its responsibilities based on its experience in the setting up similar programs. Some of these include a Master Teacher Training Program, a four-summer degree course for Science and Math elementary teachers; as well as science and computer laboratory programs to enable public high school students to effectively learn physics, chemistry, and information technology through hands-on training.
About Mirant Philippines Foundation
Mirant Philippines Foundation was created as a result of Mirant Philippines's decade-long Build-Operate-Transfer agreement with the Philippine government in power generation, rural electrification and poverty alleviation programs in its host communities of Pagbilao, Quezon and Sual, Pangasinan.
The Foundation is Mirant Philippines's institutional response to heighten private sector efforts in helping alleviate poverty in the country. It is a non-stock, non-profit organization that aims to alleviate the plight of marginalized Filipino groups through public policy and the corporate social responsibility.
Mirant Philippines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Mirant Corporation, is the largest private producer of electricity in the country, owning more than 2500 megawatts of installed capacity. It owns and operates the 1218-MW Sual Power Station in Pangasinan, the 735-MW Pagbilao Power Station in Quezon, the 210-MW Navotas I and 100- MW Navotas II power stations in Metro Manila and the 15-MW SDC Power Station in San Ildefonso, Bulacan. Mirant also owns a 20% stake in the soon-to-be-operational 1,200 MW Ilijan Power Station.
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