Globe, DepEd share successful partnership experience at EdTechXAsia Singapore Exemplifies 21st Century learning through Global Filipino Schools Program

Globe Citizenship Manager Miguel Bermundo and DepEd Regional Director for Central Visayas Dr. Juliet Jeruta, represent the Philippines at EdTechXAsia Singapore

Globe Telecom and the Department of Education (DepEd) underscored the importance of public-private partnerships for public schools and how this efficiently drives the integration of information and communication technologies in the Philippine education system.

Globe and DepEd were among the speakers at the recently-concluded EdTechXAsia in Singapore with the theme “21st Century Education and 21st Century Skills.”

In their presentation entitled “Public and Private Sector Collaborations in the Philippines,” the Globe-DepEd team detailed cases of successful and sustainable 21st century learning collaborations across the country which enhanced educational growth through various tools and techniques that use the digital learning platform.

Leading these collaborations is the Global Filipino School Program (GFS), Globe Telecom’s flagship program for public school education being implemented together with DepEd. This long term partnership seeks to bridge the educational gap through the adoption and application of technology in public schools as well as promote it as a tool for learning in classrooms.

“Education and technology help us explore endless possibilities and bridge new discoveries,” said Dr. Juliet Jeruta, regional director of the Department Of Education regional office of Central Visayas. “It helps us draw the best from everyone.”

Miguel Bermundo, Manager of Globe Citizenship said: “It is through partnerships like these that we can jointly make the most impact in increasing the quality of education in public schools. For its part, Globe continues to commit itself to intensifying ICT education in the country to help transform the lives of our youth by providing environments that enable learning through technology and allowing them to keep pace globally.”

The GFS Program offers a complete ICT package. It provides a collaborative learning space in a public schools that optimizes the use of ICT in schools. These hubs are equipped with mobile devices for learning such as tablets, virtual reality goggles and projectors as well as free internet connectivity to give teachers and students access to the program’s online learning solutions, including the GFS online library.

With the help of DepEd, the program also converts every GFS-equipped school into the city’s or province’s training hub, thereby creating an avenue for teachers in the area as well as neighboring provinces, to undergo trainings and workshops. The program is especially beneficial to teachers to help them optimize and integrate technology in everyday learning.

In a 2015 study by Taylor Nelson Sofres, results showed that the GFS program successfully improved digital skills among teachers and students, particularly in the usage of mobile technology and computer software. Likewise, there was an increase in student engagement in classroom activities as well as an enhanced school culture readiness in ICT integration.

The program started with one pilot school in Bohol in Region 7 which is known to be a strong advocate of ICT integration in the classroom and for applying 21st century learning techniques in the public school setting.

At present, 142 schools from 16 out of 18 regions nationwide are already implementing the program, with a goal of having at least one GFS in all DepEd divisions by 2020.