APEC EDUCATION FOUNDATION SUPPORTS RP e-Learning OUTREACH PROGRAM 

31 January 2007 — Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for International Economic Relations and Philippine APEC Senior Official Edsel T. Custodio announced that the APEC Education Foundation (AEF) has provided a US$200,000 grant to support the Philippine eSkwela Program, which establishes in major urban centers in the country community-based e-learning centers to conduct Information-Communication Technology (ICT)-enhanced alternative programs for out-of-school youth. 

During the 1^st APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM I) held on 18 January 2007, the Philippine delegation led by Undersecretary Custodio reported the launching in the Philippines of the pilot program to the SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (ECOTECH). 

“The eSkwela Program aims to provide access to learning opportunities through a non-formal, community-based e-learning program; to provide relevant and interactive computer-based multi-media learning resources that will be the primary source of instruction; to teach out-of-school youth basic computer literacy; to provide an alternative means of certifying literate youth 15 years of age and above who are unable to avail themselves of the formal school system; and to train teachers and school staff in the effective use of computer-based learning,” Undersecretary Custodio said. 

He further explained that in this project, the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) together with the Sandiwaan Center for Learning – a Philippine non-government organization devoted to developing e-learning materials – is working with the Bureau of Alternative Learning Systems of the Department of Education and local government units to make education interactive, appealing, relevant, enriching, and readily available to Filipino out-of-school youth. 

The learning modules are designed to get students attracted to the subject matter and then to motivate them to discover and explore further the wide range of learning resources available in each module in the form of CDs and DVDs. 

The self-paced computer learning sessions, designed to last from 40 minutes to one hour, are followed by group discussions or presentations by the instructor based on the questions and interests of the students.  The project’s operation and management will be measured by quantifiable indicators such as the number of modules completed, content expert review of quality and effectiveness of modules, and teacher and student feedback. 

Undersecretary Custodio said that the pilot implementation of the eSkwela Program will provide computer access (20 computer units for students and 1 unit for the instructor per center), relevant peripherals, and one-year broadband internet connectivity to four selected major urban areas around the Philippines, namely: Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City, Quezon City and San Jose del Monte.  The launching of the first pilot project, the Quezon City eSkwela Center, is scheduled on 7 February 2007. 

AEF grant programs primarily focus on utilizing information and communications technology (ICT) to advance education and human capacity building cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region.  In November 2005, the Foundation approved a total of US$900,000 to fund six projects managed by seven APEC member economies, including the Philippines, providing digital opportunities to disadvantaged youth to build their capacity.  The Foundation continues to provide financial support to these projects.  END

/jay

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