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Jolo, Sulu, April 24, 2005 - US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone
led a combined contingent of Philippine and US officials to Sulu
to welcome students of a public elementary school to the global
information village. Muslim girls clad in tandong (traditional
Muslim headdress) cheered, while traditional gongs resonated in
the background, as Ambassador Ricciardone formally turned-over
an internet connection, computers and various computer paraphernalia
to the school officials of Muhammad Tulawie Central Elementary
School.
The
Ambassador was accompanied by Parouk Hussin, Governor, Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM); Ben Loong, Govenor, Sulu Province;
Jocelyn Daway; Development Assistance Specialist, USAID; and John
Dalton; Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program Manager.
The
computer resources were provided under the Computer Literacy and
Internet Connection (CLIC) Program, of USAID's Growth with Equity
in Mindanao (GEM) Program. CLIC promotes computer literacy and
information technology among students and teachers in the Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict-affected areas
in Mindanao (CAAM).
In
his message, Ambassador Ricciardone underscored the value of computer
literacy as an indispensable tool in equalizing educational opportunities
and expanding access to worldwide information.
The
Ambassador noted that advancements in information and communications
technology are "having a profound effect on the way we teach,
the way we learn and the way we govern."
He
said that CLIC and similar USAID initiatives are bridging the
"digital divide" between schools in the ARMM and other more technologically-developed
areas in the Philippines. This investment is one of the keys to
creating more economic opportunities in the countryside and boosting
rural productivity.
At
the same time, Ambassador Ricciardone highlighted the significant
role of Parent, Teacher and Community Associations (PTCAs) in
maintaining the CLIC resources.
The
CLIC Program requires PTCAs to raise funds to pay for the monthly
Internet subscription after one year of CLIC support. The funds
raised by the PTCAs will also be used to cover the power costs
and replacement of expensive computer parts.
"We
are very pleased that parents of these students, acting through
the PTCA, have agreed to sustain this investment after the first
year of implementation," he said. "The willingness to continue
investing in the future of students ensures the continued access
to computers and the Internet for other students."
The
Ambassador also announced that USAID will match the funds raised
by the school's PTCA to buy additional computers. "This is our
challenge to the members of the PTCA, and this is our commitment
to the students who deserve the education that will prepare them
for the challenges that lie ahead," Ambassador Ricciardone concluded,
as he challenged the people of Jolo to unite towards achieving
their goal of sustainable development and long-lasting peace for
their province.
To
date, the CLIC Program has benefited 173 public elementary and
high schools in the ARMM and CAAM with a combined student population
of 180,000 and 5,500 teachers. An additional 50 schools will be
added to this growing CLIC network within the next five months.
(Luis Mendoza Jr., GEM Program)
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