CEBU CITY – In order to incorporate the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in the academe, telecommunications firm, Globe Telecom Inc. will pilot next month an ICT program for public school teachers in Central Visayas.

The training module for teachers, dubbed Global Filipino Teachers program, is aimed at improving the teacher’s global competitiveness by integrating the use of the internet as part of classroom methodologies.

“Our aim is for our public school teachers to maximize ICT in their teaching profession and enhance the learning skills of students in this generation,” said the head of Globe’s Community Relations Department, Jeffrey Tarayao.

Tarayao explained during the pilot launch last week in Cebu that one teacher each from 100 beneficiary-schools of Globe’s Internet in Schools Program (ISP) in the region will have the opportunity to apply for the six-day training program, which can be credited as three units of a Masters Program should the teacher want to pursue higher education.

The modules include topics on ICT applications on reading, surfing the web faster, student-parent helpdesk and a tele-collaborative facility where schools here can have real-time discussions by tele-conferencing with other schools abroad.

“For several years now, Globe’s ISP has been providing internet access to public high schools around the country. We believe that it is also necessary to build the ICT capacities of teachers so they can effectively utilize technologies and harness ICT for classroom instruction,” he said in a press conference.

Globe’s ISP has already connected 950 public high schools nationwide in the last seven years. Tarayao said Globe has envisioned tapping all these public high schools throughout the country to avail of the program.

“Gone are the days of chalk-talk,” said Luchie Flores, Executive Director of the Coalition for Better Education (CBE), a Cebu-based non-profit organization, which is Globe’s training partner for the project.

To ensure its sustainability, Flores said teachers, through their “pledge of commitment,” are required to mentor at least three other schools to be able to expand the program. “This should create a ripple-effect in the entire education sector.”

She said the program also aims to hit the values aspect in order to prevent those trained teachers from leaving the country and seek greener pastures abroad.

Last week, Globe, CBE and the Department of Education in Central Visayas signed a Memorandum of Agreement to signify its partnership in the program.