The PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE : Moving Towards K-Economy Through Enhanced ICT Human Resources

Transcription

1 The PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE : Moving Towards K-Economy Through Enhanced ICT Human Resources Nieva S. Neri Head, Policy and Standards Development Group, National Computer Center November 21-22, 2002 Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore GENERAL OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION 1. Basic Facts About the Philippines 2. Achievements In Human Resources Devt. 3. Govt. Policies and Private Sector Initiatives 4. Challenges in Enhancing Human Resources 5. Strategic Solutions The Map of the PHILIPPINES 1

2 Total Area = 300,000 sq km Land Area = 298,170 sq km Water Area = 1,830 sq km Population = 82,841,518 (as of 2002) Age Structure: 0-14 years = 36.87% years = 59.45% 65 years & over = 3.68% Population Growth Rate = 2.03% Literacy - total population = 94.60% IMPORTANT FACTS AND FIGURES ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES Labor force = 48,100,000 Government Employees = 1,700,000 Unemployment rate = 10% Number of Elementary Schools = 40,763 Number of Secondary Schools = 7,683 Number of Higher Educ. Institutions= 1,452 Number of State Univ/Colleges = 111 Number of Computer Schools = 568 2

3 Number of College enrollees = 2,637,039 (2001) Top 4 Disciplines with the most number of enrollees: 1- Business Admin 2- Education and Teaching 3-Engineering and Technology 4- Math and Information Technology Female students exceed male students by 12.24% Enrolled in private schools: % Higher Educ. Average Enrolment growth per yr. = 7% Number of graduates in Math and IT = 218,675 Telephones - main lines in use = 2,512,113 Telephones - mobile cellular = 8,600,000 Radios = 11,500,000 Televisions = 3,700,000 Internet Service Providers(ISPs) = 33 Internet Users = 1,540,000 Internet-connected agencies = 95% Internet-connected local govt units= 63% Internet-connected State Univ/Colleges= 62% ACHIEVEMENTS IN S 1. Undertook initiatives to produce a critical mass of ICT human resources in the technical/vocational and higher education sectors. Develop competency standards for the five priority ICT services sectors:customer contact center, medical transcription, software development, computer graphics/animation and shared financial services. 2. Organized a Training and Curriculum Planning Workshop for the call center industry. 3. Ensured that technology courses offered by technical/vocational schools accredited by TESDA are demand-oriented in accordance with the technical skills required in each geographic location. 3

4 ACHIEVEMENTS IN S 4. DOST has been implementing a five-year, seven billion peso flagship project called the Comprehensive Program to Enhance Technology Enterprises or Project (COMPETE). Under this program, we have established two Virtual Centers for technology Innovation (VCTI) - one in microelectronics and another in information technology. 5. DOST is also supporting cooperative research and development and training in robotics, artificial intelligence, and image processing at the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University. ACHIEVEMENTS IN S 6. Created an elearning environment by actively promoting it at all levels. 7. Organized a two-day National Conference on elearning. 8. Ongoing review with the CHED Technical Panel on IT Education of policies to allow schools to share ICT faculty, libraries, computer facilities, etc. 9. Promoted the sharing of e-learning centers and the collaboration of schools in the development of e-learning programs and instructional materials through the formation of a consortia. ACHIEVEMENTS IN S 10 Infused ICT in teaching Math, English, Science and Values in Basic Educ. Developed a standard lesson plan to infuse ICT in teaching the Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) and develop corresponding assessment instruments. 11. Formed a Task Force on Internet Café for Education to encourage the use of existing Internet cafés as computer labs for use by both teachers and students at all levels. 4

5 ACHIEVEMENTS IN S 12. Mobile IT buses containing 16 learning PCs with CD ROMS on Science and Math were used to train 16,000 students and 295 teachers. The bus can access areas without electricity because it has its own power supply. 13. Have interconnected 46 high schools and colleges, through the Project: IT-enhanced Learning and Interconnectiviy of School. We have also launched the ICT Learning Hubs, inaugurating 2 out of 15 Hubs. ICT Learning Hubs are for training at least 10,000 internationally recognized and industry accredited IT professionals ACHIEVEMENTS IN S 14. Implementing a project called "Philippine Partnership with Asian Internet Interconnection Initiatives (AI3). Through this project, Philippine research and academic institutions are able to participate in networking research and experimentation. 15. Reviewed Project Link, a project to provide interconnection among public schools that have computer laboratories. GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND 1. Go into massive IT manpower development. Teach computer literacy in all grade schools including use of e- mail and Internet to enhance learning. Enhance English, Math and Science in basic education. 2. Develop appropriate IT skills. 3. Develop elearning and promote educational alliances. 4. Develop IT certification and professionalization systems. 5

6 GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND 5. Implement government ICT manpower development plan. 6. Encourage adherence to ICT curriculum standardization. 7. Find a feasible way of providing computers and other ICT equipment through lease or purchase. 8. Extending flexibility in the use of government savings/income derived from e-commerce activities. GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND 9. Establishing ICT compensation plan in the Government, and establish an ICT career system in the Government. Republic Act No on the Magna Carta Benefits for S&T should also be extended to government ICT practitioners to prevent high employment turnover. Standardize honorarium rates for specialized skills of ICT practitioners working on special projects as resource persons. 10.Government to provide loan facilities/funds to government employees and/or citizens to acquire computers and related peripherals for home use. GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND 11. Government to be a model in enforcing the Intellectual Property Code of Encourage commercial and stock corporations to open employment of persons with disabilities but are skilled in ICT. 6

7 CHALLENGES IN ENHANCING S Funding Matching skills demand with supply Providing the necessary Infrastructure Institutionalizing ICT in government Establishing the proper policy environment Standards setting STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS Importance given to ICT by the national leadership egovernment identified to take the lead Active participation by the private sector High potential for mobile access, mobile gov t Assistance given by international development agencies 7+$1.Ã<28Ã9(5<Ã08&+Ä 0DUDPLQJÃ6 DODPDWÃ3 RÄ (PDLOÃWRÃQVQHUL#QFFJRYSK 7