Philippine education’s curricula developers from colleges and universities constantly update courses which are offered to Filipino students through the sustenance of law related- directives where the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (Dep Ed) are in conjunction for strict implementation. Senator Mirriam Defensor Santiago, who sometime in 2013, authored a Republic Act on Computer Literacy which connects this with another bill aims for (Information and Communication Technology) ICT enhancement in the country’s educational sector called Free ICT College Education.
Through this ICT recognition in the Philippine curriculum, it revolutionizes the country’s educational standard to be at par with global curricula which are offered by colleges and universities around the world; a trend dictated by the breakthroughs of technology. This could possibly be acquired through a bill which she perceives as one of the relevant factors to raise dominant graduate attributes for local and global competitiveness. This bill too according to the senator is a bill that seeks to enhance Filipino’s contemporary college education through ICT know-how. Being an active member of the Philippine senate, she utilizes her universal awareness to serve the public by recognizing the need of today’s changing society. She points out that through education, ICT knowledge widespread regulates Philippine educational contents into superior standards.
According to the press release issued in her website, the Free ICT College Education is in conjunction to the National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) month last held last June. Senator Santiago’s filed bill also focuses on equipping the poor but deserving students in the educational systems to obtain knowledge and skills in the competitive ICT field.
As an author of the proposed Magna Carta of Internet Freedom, she called once again the public to support this Senate Bill No. 2839. If this will be sanctioned, it will mandate state colleges and universities to develop two-year ICT courses of which these deserving students are going to avail of. It is also suggested that these courses shall be offered for free to selected graduates of public high schools “subject to the limitation of funding and facilities. The proposed law also seeks to penalize school authorities who refuse to acknowledge qualified beneficiaries”
She further highlights that ICT creates advantages to Philippine economy through the skills of graduates who have the proper knowledge and training in ICT catering to the fast-changing technologically challenging labor markets.
Under the Free ICT College Education Act, beneficiaries are given the right to choose the state colleges or universities they wanted to track their ICT courses.
Aside from this, it is remarkable to recognize that Santiago in 2013 filed S.B. No. 1696 or the Education for the 21st Century Act for increasing computer literacy programs for students through the teacher training as a continuing form of professional development on the latest computer software with the Secretary of Education’s directives to award grants for teacher training in technology.
With the support of dedicated members of the senate, educational curricula are being revolutionized to synchronize with the trending country’s educational breakthroughs where teaching methodologies nowadays are metamorphosing into the utmost need to use varied forms of technology and media which aspires to lift economy through the production of technologically- equipped graduates who can satisfy manpower needs; a promising sign that the mission, vision and objectives of the state’s education are heading towards a prolific 21st century.
