Aklan school benefits from Global Filipino School program

As many as 1,400 public elementary school students from New Washington, Aklan, can now experience what it is like to be a “Global Filipino School” with the recent unveiling of a new Internet-connected computer laboratory.

Through the Global Filipino School (GFS) program, New Washington Elementary School was provided with 24 computers and 10 tablets, Internet connectivity, and other peripherals.

Spearheaded by Globe Telecom and Ayala Foundation, GFS is a long-term educational initiative that seeks to transform select public schools into centers of excellence in information and communications technology (ICT) and innovative teaching methods.

Aside from the computer equipment and laboratory, GFS also provides ICT-proficiency training for teachers, which can help them enhance not only the quality of instruction, but the overall classroom experience. The teacher-training component of the program is conducted by Ayala Foundation’s Training Institute program.

GFS in New Washington is also championed by the Municipal Government of New Washington and the Department of Education Division of Aklan.

Present at the launch were representatives from Globe, Ayala Foundation, Department of Education, the Municipal Government, and the school.

From L-R:  Hon. Jean Paul Peralta, Municipality Administrator, New Washington, Aklan; Hon. Jesus Quimpo, Vice Mayor, New Washington, Aklan; Dr. Emelda Q. Fuentes, School Head, New Washington Elementary School; Dr. Jesse Gomez, Schools Division Superintendent, Department of Education - Division of Aklan; Fernando Esguerra, Director for Citizenship, Globe Telecom; and Joanna O. Duarte, Senior Director for Programs, Ayala Foundation.

“Ayala Foundation has always believed in the critical role played by quality education in developing communities,” said Ruel Maranan, President of Ayala Foundation. “Through programs such as GFS, we hope to make an impact in the lives of the people in our program communities. We also hope that this will encourage them to contribute to improving the lives of the people living in their local community, their province, and ultimately the country.”

“Globe has been a longtime advocate of education,” said Yoly Crisanto, SVP for Corporate Communications at Globe Telecom. “We want to give Filipinos, especially those who are underprivileged yet deserving, more access to education opportunities through ICT.  Thus, we are confident that through GFS, we can be instrumental in increasing the quality of learning in public schools and give the Filipino youth a brighter future.”

Immediately after the launch, GFS team held training sessions for a total of 50 teachers. The training covered ICT lab maintenance, on top of the Training Institute curriculum which focuses on the following areas: classroom pedagogy, development of critical thinking skills, values clarification, and use of technology in the classroom.

New Washington Elementary School is the fifth school to be part of the expanded GFS which was launched earlier this year in Cagayan de Oro City; Pandacan, Manila: and San Pascual, Batangas.