Computer literacy key to future jobs for RP

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today stressed the need for massive training in IT and the enhancement of computer skills of all Filipinos, beginning at the primary levels of education, as computer literacy and technological knowledge will create jobs and wealth for the country in the future.

"Electronics, IT and telecoms are our top exports, amounting to more than $29 billion and more than 60% of our total export last year. This industry continues to grow. In fact, companies such as IBM Solutions Delivery, Accenture, Lawson, Headstrong, Perot Systems and others will need at least 6,000 additional manpower this year," he said.

Angara said that the IT industry creates the wealth of our country at present and will continue to provide jobs for Filipinos in the future.

"If we are to capture even a portion of the demand of the global business process outsourcing (BPO) industry valued at $10 billion, we must start preparing our labor force through massive training in IT and the enhancement of computer skills of all Filipinos," he said.

Angara is pushing for the integration of a computer education program into the school curriculum, which teaches the basics of computer applications and programming, to promote a nationwide upgrading of computer skills.

SBN 909, or An Act to Integrate Computer Education Program into the Educational System, filed by Angara will create a Board on Computer Education to supervise the accreditation of the computer schools, assess and provide for the necessary training of the personnel of computer schools of methods of teaching, prepare the curriculum for computer-aided logic, math and science education in the elementary level, monitor the performance of the computer schools, and evaluate the abilities of the students enrolled in the program.

Private sectors' participation will be enlisted through the grant of fiscal incentives to private sector participants and a voucher system will be institutionalized with respect to the country's nineteen (19) poorest provinces to make these provinces at par with the rest of the country in terms of computer literacy.

"Technology is changing the world - the way we work, the content of our jobs, and our expectations in life. It is at the core of business, education, communication and almost all other aspects of life. Almost every job in any country requires literacy in computers and information technology, hence we should adequately prepare our people," he said.