We have a LOT of catching up to do if we are to compete in IT globally. A recently published study on the state of IT education in public schools points to the very sad state of our system in the Philippines. While a select few schools are able to incorporate computer familiarization and education in the elementary grades, the vast majority of our grade school pupils have never come face to face with a "real" computer. Those living in metropolitan areas are relatively better off in that computerization has started to take root there, but, pity those in the rural areas where electric power is at a premium and incomes are just enough for the basic necessities. Here is an excerpt of an article which appeared in the Philippine Star in the mid-October 2001.

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Only 1.8% of public schools have Internet access; 14% of tutors use computers

At a time when the Philippines badly needs to keep in pace with the fast-changing developments in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, only 1.8 percent of the country’s public schools have Internet access and only close to 14 percent of tutors use computers, according to a comprehensive study on the status of Filipino public school teachers initiated by Sen. Teresa Aquino-Oreta.

During the regular monthly meeting of the Foundation for the Upgrading of the Standard of Education (FUSE) recently, Oreta said the study, dubbed "Project TAO," also showed that 44.83 percent of public school teachers asked to assess their school facilities said their classrooms have no electricity, while 38.42 percent said their schools have no toilets.

About 25 percent said their classrooms have no ceiling and 44.65 percent said they had to provide desks and chairs for themselves or their students.

Project TAO (Teachers’ Advancement for Optimum Well-Being) is the first-of-its-kind survey on the working conditions and welfare benefits of public school teachers in the country conducted by the Senate education committee during the 11th Congress when it was chaired by Oreta.

The Project TAO study, done in 1999, was conducted among 405,973 teachers in the country’s 39,800 public schools, where more than 15 million school children were enrolled.

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Well, for those of you who are reading this now, you are doubly blessed. You can use a computer and you have access to the Internet. Why not share your blessings? If somebody approaches you for help to introduce computers to our less fortunate compatriots, give gladly. Or better yet, write to your favorite mayor, congressman, or senator and urge him/her to work for the improvement of public school facilities.