After 10 months of an intensive and rigorous selection process, Passerelles numériques Philippines Class 2018 have finally been chosen. The 49 deserving students have been selected among the 9000 youth from all over the Visayas who have undergone the selection process.
The new scholars, together with their parents, were welcomed by the staff, students, and some alumni. They also had the chance to tour the university before starting the training.
On September 1st and 2nd, PN Philippines organized the annual Integration Days at Genesis Valley. To integrate the students, the two-day seminar was filled with different games and activities based on our core values: trust, responsibility, and solidarity. “It was a lot of fun and I also got to know some of my co-scholars,” said Reymart Fernandez, one of the new students. Staff and students showcased their talents and presented them during a talent show.
After this joyful moment, the pre-training immediately started. Instead of the 2-week pre-training practiced during the previous years, the new pre-training is now a month long. Thanks to the help of a group of volunteers, Véronique, Matthieu, Jerôme, and Houda, the students started intensive classes in English, basic computer science, math, and “Learning to Learn” at the University of San Carlos. “The students participated a lot and they were very motivated to learn. They are interesting and interested students,” said Véronique who taught English and “Learning to Learn.” Each class is very interactive to create a fun learning environment.
One of the games during the amazing race.
Towards a major change in education
Before welcoming the new class, on August 26, PN Philippines gathered all its partners to formally launch the new training program. During this dedicated event, the new curriculum was presented to our partners. Round tables were organized to have an open discussion about the new program, but also to get input from guest on what would be the ideal IT employee according to them and their needs. Overall, the event was a success and everyone actively participated in the activities.
Philippines’ education system is undergoing a change due to the implementation of the K-12 Program. The aim is to provide a better education to Filipino children in order to boost their employability. Therefore, PNP is currently remodeling the pedagogical methodology to offer an innovative and dynamic learning method (read our previous article dedicated to the “K to 12” reform).
Alberto Arco, PNP Training Manager, presenting the new training program to the partners.
Under the new training program, there will be a change in the curriculum to be able to fit the needs of the company in terms of IT skills, and soft skills. According to Alberto Arco, Training Manager at PN Philippines:
“The new training program will be very different from before. It will be competency-based and will break the traditional way of teaching and learning. By being more student-centered it will allow us to focus on the learning capabilities of each student. There will be coaches, teachers, and mentors to maximize students’ abilities and support them during their studies.”
By implementing this new training program, Passerelles numériques Philipppines’ ultimate goal is to be innovative and to provide high quality training to students; guarantee them the best employability possible so they can truly live the life they want and deserve.