THE Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communication Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) in Negros Occidental is working on achieving inclusive growth in the province through the establishment of the Technology for Education, Employment, Entrepreneurial, and Economic Development (Tech4Ed) centers.
For Negros Occidental, three new Tech4Ed centers will be established this year, particularly in Himamaylan City, Cauayan town, and at the Negros Occidental Language and Information Center (NOLITC) in Bacolod City.
Romeo Tome, DOST-ICTO provincial team leader, said the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with these recipient-sites is set on February 26 and 27, and March 1, respectively.
“The Tech4Ed project is mainly designed to complement the government’s goal of achieving inclusive growth through bridging the gap between educational and digital divide,” he said, adding that the agency has already partnered with San Carlos City Government for this project last year.
Of the 18 barangays in San Carlos, the first Tech4Ed center was opened in Barangay Codcod.
Other barangays are also expected to have their respective centers this year, Tome said.
DOST-ICTO is eyeing to establish 42,000 centers in the country, which will comprise the nationwide Tech4Ed network. The project targets all sectors of the community, including persons with disabilities, senior citizens, out-of-school youth and indigenous peoples, empowering and enabling them to join the growth mainstream.
For the first phase, the Tech4Ed centers in the province will provide three main services such as eEduSkills, which focuses on educational and digital divide; eAssist for opportunity divide; and eGovServ devised for direct service to people.
Under the eEduSkills are digitized reviewers for Alternative Learning System, Learning English Language for Pinoys, online Technical Education and Skills Development Authority training courses, and value formation, including how to use the internet and cyber security.
The eAssist includes Microsoft digital literacy and career shifting module for teachers.
The eGovServ provides community the access to services of various government agencies like Social Security System, Pag-Ibig Fund, and National Bureau of Investigation.
“As connectivity increases, the gross domestic product also improve,” Tome said, adding that aside from stimulating innovation and creative use of ICT, the project will also help in promoting green technology and sustainable development.
Tome further said that under the MOA, recipient-local government units (LGUs) will provide the equipment like minimum of three computers in a 20-square meter facility and appoint a center manager while the agency takes charge of the learning management system as platform.
The provincial DOST-ICTO has already reached out to other LGUs in the province for the establishment of the Tech4ED centers in their respective localities, Tome said, adding that most of them have positive response to the project.