ANGARA: INTEGRATE COMPUTER EDUCATION IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM

In response to the growing demand of technological skills in the domestic and global labor market, Sen. Edgardo J. Angara urges for an integrated computer education in the elementary level. He encourages the inclusion of basic computer applications and programs in the primary level to produce highly skilled workers in programming, digital design, hardware, networking and software development.

"We are facing tough competition in many or all sectors of the global and domestic labor. In our efforts to recover from lost economic grounds, our people need to be updated on the latest advances in technology. The youth must be scientifically and technically prepared to fully tap their inner talents and contribute to national development," said Angara, former President of the University of the Philippines.

The new bill creates the Board of Computer Education to assess, supervise and monitor the accreditation of schools; and provide the curriculum for computer-aided logic, math and science education in the elementary level. It also institutes a voucher system for specialized computer education in 19 of the poorest provinces of the country. Under this bill, qualified high school graduates may take competitive aptitude tests; upon passing, they can avail of vouchers from partner agencies or the local unit of the Board to enroll in a computer school of their choice.

Angara stressed the importance of "preparing students for the demands of technology to enable them as future professionals to perform competitively both here and abroad. Likewise, it will improve the country's standing as an investment and learning ground in terms of technology capability."

In the 2009 Global I.T. Report released by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Philippines has further slipped from its 2008 ranking of 81st in terms of Network Readiness to 85th this year. In 2007 the country ranked 69th.