ICT‐Enabled Distance Education in Community Development in the Philippines

Abstract

The Philippines, an archipelago of 7,100 islands in Southeast Asia, faces new opportunities as it competes with the rest of the world in the information and communication technology (ICT) arena. New industries including call centers, foreign medical transcription services, and the hugely popular multiplayer online gaming systems require the rolling‐out of a much needed ICT architectural backbone and support systems, and a readily available pool of ICT‐trained workers. This article describes the development of the Maguinda Multipurpose Community Telecenter, a rural facility designed to provide this type of support; the experiences, successes, and lessons learned from a research and development project implemented at the site; and qualitative insights into the effects of the ICT intervention on the lives of the Maguinda residents. Emphasis is placed on the importance of community development principles in rural distance education implementation.

Acknowledgements

The project reported in this article was supported by the Pan Asia Networking (PAN) Program Initiative of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). It was conducted in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology Caraga Region (DOST‐Caraga); the Teacher Community Coordinators of District I, Manila; the Bureau of Alternative Learning Services (ALS) of the Department of Education; the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD); Barangay Maguinda, Butuan City; and the Maguinda Multipurpose Community Telecenter.