IT in School Curriculum

Integration of IT in school curriculum sought

MANILA, Philippines -- The integration of information technology in basic education and making it free as a college course are being pushed by two lawmakers at the House of Representatives who filed separate bills on the proposal.

Marikina Representative Marcelino Teodoro filed House Bill No. 8 seeking the inclusion of IT as a compulsory subject in public and private elementary and high schools.

“Whereas before, intelligence and emotional quotient would be sufficient for the holistic development of a child, we could no longer limit ourselves to these factors considering the changing of time," Teodoro said.

He stressed in his proposal that teaching IT in schools would encourage young people to put technology to good use, as well as make them more globally competitive when they grow up.

Cebu City First District Raul Del Mar filed House Bill 442 mandating students to avail of free college IT education from state universities and colleges.

Del Mar said the bill, to be known as the "Free Information and Communication Technology College Education Act of 2001," seeks to provide a two-year free college education in ICT courses to all high school graduates of public schools.

The proposal also indicates that the funds for the free college IT education will come from the National Treasury, Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Education.

The funds needed in the ensuing fiscal years for the program’s implementation shall be included in the appropriations of the State universities and colleges in the General Appropriations Act.

The bill also mandates the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to formulate a two-year college curriculum geared towards providing students with training or skills consistent with the manpower demands of a highly competitive business environment.

"Given the present business practice that places a premium on formal post-secondary education or college training, and given the sheer number of graduates of our public school system, this proposed legislation is a first concrete step towards providing the deserving graduates of our public high school with appropriate quality college education keyed to the demands of a highly competitive marketplace," Del Mar said.

The beneficiaries will have the right to choose the public or state college or university within the city, province or region, as the case may be to enjoy the free college education program.

source: Philippine Daily Inquirer