IBM Philippines and the Department of Education (DepEd) recently collaborated to promote better learning opportunities for children in underprivileged schools and academic institutions from Pasay (10) and Batangas (7).
IBM donated a total of 31 IBM Young Explorer stations that includes teacher training, valued at approximately $77,000.00 USD. These are computer housed in brightly colored, kid-friendly Little Tikes™ furniture and equipped with award-winning educational software to help children learn and explore concepts in math, science and language. The computers can also help children learn important socialization skills such as working together and sharing.
IBM’s KidSmart Early Learning Program aims to inspire, enable and prepare young learners for future success in school, helping level the playing field and ensure all children have access to educational tools through the latest technology. It is a global IBM corporate citizenship initiative that encourages student achievement and give equal opportunity to those who do not have access to technology. It integrates new interactive teaching and learning activities using the latest technology into the early learning curricula.
Since IBM started deploying KidSmart Early Learning Program in the country in 2000, IBM has donated 400 Young Explorer Learning units to 375 schools/ day care centers and 16 institutions and museums, benefiting more than 800,000 young children from remote to underprivileged areas of towns and cities across the nation. The Asia Pacific College (APC) serves as the official training partner for the IBM KidSmart Early Learning program in the Philippines, training almost 1,700 public teachers and administrators here so far.
Worldwide, IBM has invested USD$133 million into the KidSmart Early Learning Program, donating more than 64,000 Young Explorers to schools and nonprofit organizations in 60 countries, reaching more than 105,000 teachers and more than 10 million students.