Bangkok--20 Dec--Hill & Knowlton
Microsoft (Thailand) Ltd. recently announced the winners of Microsoft IT Youth Challenge 2006 competition set to enhance IT skills amongst students in primary to secondary school levels. There were 13 finalists selected from 600 entries nationwide. Total value of 100,000 baht grants were presented to winners. At the same event, Microsoft also presented the Innovative Teacher Leadership Award to the teachers honored as the role model who exceptionally integrated ICT into their classes as a proof of lifelong learning.
Microsoft Thailand has initiated the “Microsoft IT Youth Challenge” for consecutive three years in collaboration with the ministry of education. Main objective of the project is to encourage Thai students’ interests in ICT. This project has gained an overwhelming response from primary and secondary school students across the country. There were 1,300 students participated the project and with 600 pieces of IT work nominated for competition. Amongst these pieces, there were top three prizes as well as complimentary prizes for each educational level. 13 winning pieces in total have recently been announced.
The first prize winning teams receive the Prime Minister’s trophy as well as 50,000 baht scholarships. The second prize winning teams receive the Education minister’s trophy together with 30,000 baht scholarships. While the third prize winning teams receive Microsoft’s trophy as well as 20,000 baht scholarships.
At the winner announcement event, Microsoft also presented “Innovative Teacher Leadership Award 2006” to recognize teachers who have outstanding works on integrating ICT into their subjects and classes. Eight teachers from all primary to secondary schools nationwide are honored as Innovative Teachers who will represent Thailand to attend the Asia Pacific conference on “Innovative Teachers Leadership Award” project in February 2007.
Ms.Saijai Boonyachotima, Public Sector Director, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited, said “As we are building Thailand to become a knowledge-based society, it is crucial to develop better standard of the education system in a sustainable way to enable both teachers and learners to adapt themselves into the changing world where technology is playing a significant role in daily life. Realizing the importance of IT as a key driver of this development, Microsoft has been proactive to propel the advancement and development for education by using IT as a major tool. The “Microsoft IT Youth Challenge Camp 2006” and “Innovative Teacher 2006” projects are proof of our effort. These projects have been organized for three consecutive years as part of Microsoft’s lifelong learning project called ‘Partners in Learning’. Microsoft Thailand aims to bridge the technology gap to pave the way to a knowledge-based society. All key activities done under the Partners in Learning project aim at encouraging Thai youth and teachers to enhance their IT skills. We believe that technology will enable people to realize their full potentials and will lead to endless development and learning process.
Dr. Shinapat Pumirat, Deputy Secretary General of Office of Permanent Secretary for Education said the adoption of technology for today’s education facilitated the easy access to learning sources and help promote the concept of life-long learning. Through the new IT medium, software and multimedia, learning can be done easily with enjoyment which will result in better development for both teachers and learners. We are glad to work with Microsoft Thailand and appreciate their effort and contribution to the education development in Thailand.
For further information, please contact:
Suphada Jaidee Hill & Knowlton ThailandTel: 0-2627 3501 ext 209Fax. 0-2627 3510Email: [email protected]
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