Taiwan Excellence launches mobile classroom project

A model set-up of the Taiwan Excellence mobile classroom formally unveiled at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday (Nov. 9, 2022). The mobile classroom vehicle is equipped with solar panel, computers, and built-in tables, making it specially made for far-flung areas where access to electricity and basic education is very limited. (PNA photo courtesy of Ivan Saldajeno)

MANILA – Taiwan Excellence has launched a mobile classroom program that would provide quality education to learners who have very limited access to it, particularly those in rural communities.

The mobile classroom project, which recently won the Taiwan Excellence Sharing is Caring concept competition, was formally unveiled on Wednesday at the Manila Hotel.

“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 (ESG) goals,” said Cynthia Kiang, the director-general of the Taiwan Bureau of Foreign Trade.

The mobile classroom vehicle is equipped with solar panel, computers, and built-in tables, making it specially made for far-flung areas where access to electricity and basic education is very limited.

The project mainly caters to computer literacy, integrated mathematics, entrepreneurship, and basic life skills.

To make the mobile classroom project happen, Taiwan Excellence has teamed up with the Department of Education (DepEd) through its alternative learning system.

“Let me express my profound thanks to the Bureau of Foreign Trade and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council for organizing the Philippine mobile classroom concept,” Vice President Sara Duterte, also the education secretary, said in a video message.

The mobile classroom program is currently being rolled out in the provinces of Laguna and Quezon and the cities of San Jose Del Monte and Lapu-Lapu.

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office ambassador Michael Hsu believes the Taiwan Excellence-DepEd team-up is just the start of more bilateral agreements between Taiwan and Philippine agencies.

“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,” Hsu said.