Bangkok--10 Jun--Hill & Knowlton
Extended program to focus on 3 principles: Innovative Schools, Innovative Teachers and Innovative Students
The Office of the Basic Education Commission, Ministry of Education and Microsoft Thailand have officially announced their extended collaboration for the successful Partners in Learning program (PiL) over the next five years (2009 — 2013). In a MOU signing ceremony held today, the two parties both looked to the future and celebrated five years of achievements through the program which was established with a goal of transforming education through the integration of information and technology.
Since the launch of the program in 2004, Partners in Learning has reached more than 4 million students and 80,000 teachers have received ICT skills training. Microsoft is committed to using ICT as a means of bridging the digital learning gap and to take Thai education to the next level so that it can meet international standards and allow for enhanced competitive capabilities in the future. Building on these efforts, the next phase of the program will be leveraged via the three key principles of Innovative Schools, Innovative Teachers and Innovative Students.
“The Ministry of Education has a clear policy of transforming education,” said Dr. Khunying Kasama Varavarn, Secretary-General Office of Basic Education, Ministry of Education. “Under this policy we have set three goals as follows: (1) to enable all people to have access to education, (2) to allow and encourage every sector to participate in the development of education and (3) to develop learning procedures in accordance to global changes and developments. As such, we view this collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Microsoft Thailand as well aligned with these goals and the national education act, in terms of providing more educational opportunities and access, as well as encouraging greater learning through ICT.” “In addition, Microsoft Partners in Learning is also supporting other programs that have been initiated by MOE, such as the Teachers Development program, the ICT integration program, the development of learning tools and media programs, the provincial hub of education program, the investment in learning math and science program and the school standardization program. We recognize that technology is a key tool to realize these programs so it is important that MOE collaborate with the private sector to gain the necessary support and broaden education for all,” continued Dr. Khunying Kasama Varavarn.
Also speaking at the signing ceremony, Ms. Patama Chantaruck, Managing Director, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited said, “As a technology leader, Microsoft is continuously cooperating with various parties - namely the government, private sectors, Microsoft partners, business organizations, educational organizations and NGOs in order to better understand the needs of each party and share expertise to support each other. At Microsoft, we recognize education as critical to both the ability of individuals to reach their full potential and for the social and economic development of every nation.
“Today, the acquisition and sharing of knowledge is the most powerful driver of the global economy. Without doubt this means that information and communication technology is creating exceptional opportunities for people around the world, but we must not forget that this is also contributing to a widening skills gap — a “digital divide”— across communities, as well as between countries. As part of Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential program focusing on transforming education through the use of ICT, the Partners in Learning program is being implemented worldwide with an investment of US$250 million. Through Partners in Learning, we are providing the tools needed to foster new approaches to education and enhance teachers’ professional development.
“Since its launch in Thailand in 2004, we have trained more than 80,000 teachers, Microsoft MultiPoint Mouse has been implemented in more than 500 schools nationwide and over 5,000 students have taken part in Microsoft’s IT Youth Challenge activities. Ultimately through these activities we have set a goal of creating educational experiences that remove limitations and bring students and teachers closer together,” added Ms. Patama Chantaruck.
The collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Microsoft for the Partners in Learning program will focus on three key elements:
Innovative Schools - Helping schools around the world to move beyond the limits of the classroom and traditional learning models. Through shared experiences and goals, the program aims to create models that any school can use to prepare children for success in an evolving global economy.
Innovative Teachers - Connecting and empowering educators worldwide. The Innovative Teachers Network enables teachers to learn from one another and work collaboratively on new approaches to learning through national or region-wide portals. The Innovative Teachers Forums are a set of national, regional and worldwide events that identify and reward exceptional examples of technology-use in the classroom.
Innovative Students - Providing students with access to programs and curriculums that help them to fully integrate technology into their learning process, both in school and at home. The Microsoft IT Youth Challenge will soon also become an online activity to encourage students to use the internet in creative and ethical ways. Knowledge and lessons will be provided through Live Communications which encourage students to register for online classes and expand their learning to others at their school in the format of a group project.
In addition to the ICT training and other activities to promote the development of education through ICT integration, Microsoft has also developed new innovative learning tools, including Microsoft MultiPoint Mouse — the software application that allows one computer to connect with up to 50-200 mice, and Marvin - the 3-dimensional interactive learning system that interacts with students through images, sounds, videos and animation.
Moreover, www.pil.in.th has been set up as an online community for educators, teachers, and students to exchange their experiences and share learning tools - with more than 800 pieces of ICT-integrated lessons created by innovative teachers now available. To date, 46 Innovative Teachers from Thailand have been recognized by Microsoft and a Thai Innovative Teacher recently received the Educators’ Choice Award at the Regional Innovative Teachers Conference 2009 held in Malaysia.
For further information, please contact:
Suphada Chaiwong
Hill & Knowlton Thailand
Tel: 0-2627 3501 ext 209
Fax. 0-2627 3510
Email: [email protected]