Countryside education gets huge boost

An innovative concept in education, the "Taiwan Excellence Mobile Classroom" was launched in order to provide quality education to marginalized members of society, especially those in the countryside.

Thanks to the Taiwanese government for holding the "Taiwan Excellence: Sharing is Caring" competition, and to Sustainable Energy and Enterprise Development for Communities or SEED4Com for coming up with the concept, which started with a bicycle and sidecar plus minimal amenities, the classroom will cater to the educational needs.

The Taiwan Excellence Mobile Classroom is equipped with Taiwan Excellence products such as display monitors, plus laptops for both learners and teachers. To make it fully sustainable, solar panels with a full inverter system and battery storage with a 3kWh capacity were also installed, plus speaker systems and microphones, including foldable chairs, tables and tents to make it truly resemble a classroom. The companies are United Renewable Energy, GIGA-BYTE Technology, ASUSTeK Computer, Acer, Dacian Technology Material, Team Group Inc. and IPEVO Inc.

To give the concept a more scientific approach, the Department of Education provided the DepEd-developed Alternative Learning System learning modules that will be used in the Taiwan Excellence Mobile Classroom's rollout in Cebu and Quezon areas.

The program targets to provide education to those in need. By undergoing classes at the Taiwan Excellence Mobile Classroom, learners will be taught subjects such as Integrated Math, Entrepreneurship, Life Skills and Digital Citizenship.

The launch of Taiwan Excellence Mobile Classroom that was held at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel along Roxas Boulevard in Manila saw the presence of officials and representatives from Taiwan's Bureau of Foreign Trade under the country's Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, Manila Economic and Cultural Office and from the DepEd.

"With the efforts of all devoted parties, the 'Taiwan Excellence Mobile Classroom' project will offer greater educational opportunities for learners of all ages in the Philippines. Today's event is a start to connect with respective communities, a start to unite bilateral goodwill for those in need, and a start to trigger more parties to go for global environmental, social and governance goals," said Cynthia Kiang, director general of Taiwan's Bureau of Foreign Trade.

For his part, Ambassador Michael Peiyung Hsu of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines said that Taiwan, being one of the leading innovators in the IT and tech industry, expressed gladness that Taiwan Excellence has gathered many parties' efforts to make this philanthropic idea, the "Taiwan Excellence Mobile Classroom," come true.

"I believe that this is an initiative and there will be more empowerment programs from bilateral agencies and enterprises. Our friendship and relationship will for sure be enhanced and strengthened," Ambassador Hsu said.

Organized by the Bureau of Foreign Trade and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, the vision of "Taiwan Excellence: Sharing is Caring" was to help make society a better place by giving everyone an opportunity to raise ideas about charity and other altruistic activities related to the sustainable development of society and environmental protection by utilizing products of Taiwan Excellence.