Over 750 combined trainees and scholars of the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) and the Foundation for Professional Training, Inc. (FPTI) have received connectivity and communications assistance from Globe to enable them to transition to digital and distance learning beginning this school year.
Globe provided support through prepaid SIM cards and load cards which 600 trainees under PBEd’s YouthWorks PH Program and 160 scholars under FPTI’s Lifelong Development for Women Program, can use to connect to the internet for three and six months, respectively, to access relevant digital tools and content.
“Globe reinforces its commitment to nation-building by being the catalyst for the new normal. One of our goals is to assist the education sector by providing connectivity, educational materials, and training that can help schools, teachers, students, and parents prepare for and embrace digital learning,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.
PBEd’s YouthWorks PH Flexible Training for Work (FTW), is a set of interventions for unemployed, out-of-school youth affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the current program, trainees came from Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, and Zamboanga City.
“We thank Globe Telecom for their generous support to our FTW trainees, and we are certain that their assistance will go a long way in ensuring that our trainees will not be left behind,” PBEd Executive Director and YouthWorks PH Chief of Party Lovelaine Basillote said. “This partnership is a testament to the private sector’s commitment to work hand-in-hand with other stakeholders in the education and workforce development sectors. With this, the youth are given access to programs that will help them become productive and eventually employed,” she added.
Through the strong partnerships with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), PBEd is working to streamline blended training approaches and to develop/revise training regulations and online programs for certain trades/skills that are foreseen to be in-demand, given government priorities and the new normal of the labor market.
GCash is also supporting PBEd through a donation channel for those who wish to sponsor the PBEd trainees’ connectivity needs. Funds collected will go towards the provision of learning devices.
In addition, Globe’s Digital Thumbprint Program modules on responsible online citizenship will be integrated into the program for the trainees to learn the proper way of interacting with other people through the internet.
“This program has helped me a lot because it taught me how to answer a lot of questions, which will be useful for me in the future. I would like to thank the FTW team for this program because not only does it help the youth, it also helps their parents who also learn from the knowledge taught by the program. Because of FTW, the youth have something to do, especially right now that we are in a pandemic. I hope you can help more young Filipinos,” said Nikko Duarte, a PBEd trainee in Zamboanga City.
On the other hand, the two-year FPTI program is geared towards young women aged 16-21 who are interested in Hotel and Restaurant Services. It includes training in skills with accreditation (National Certificate II) from TESDA as well as job placement assistance.
Given the current situation, blended learning will also be facilitated for the program. All module-based and theoretical lessons will be frontloaded in the first semester so that the students can do 100% digital learning.
Mila Araneta, FPTI Executive Director said: “We extend our thanks to Globe for their support of #OplanGadget, providing our scholars with the connectivity they will need to participate fully in online learning. This is only the beginning of a collaborative partnership with Globe as we work towards achieving shared goals and development of lifelong learning.”
FPTI delivers employment-led education for young women scholars, accompanying them through to graduation and securing their first job. Courses are focused on the skill sector of food service. It also offers various tech-voc programs and stand-alone senior high school in the tech-voc track.
To learn more, visit Globe https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html, PBEd YouthWorksPH page https://www.pbed.ph/youthworksph, and FPTI FB https://www.facebook.com/fptiPH/ and www.fptiphilippines.org
