Senate Minority Leader Aquilino 'Koko' Pimentel III has expressed strong support for the new partnership between the Department of Education (DepEd) and global organization iamtheCODE, aimed at promoting gender equality in the tech industry by equipping young women with coding skills.
The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara and iamtheCODE founder Lady Marieme Jamme, seeks to provide critical digital education to female high school students across the Philippines. This initiative is part of a larger movement to empower young women and create greater inclusion in the digital economy.
Pimentel, a long-time advocate for integrating coding into the national curriculum, believes this collaboration is a crucial step in enhancing educational opportunities for girls in the country. "By focusing on our young women, we are not only providing them with opportunities to thrive in the digital economy but also promoting gender equality in the tech industry", he said.
Pimentel’s commitment to this initiative is further demonstrated through his legislative efforts. He has filed Senate Bill No. 79, which proposes incorporating age-appropriate computer programming into the enhanced basic education curriculum. He urged the Senate Committee on Basic Education to prioritize this measure, highlighting its importance in preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century.
The senator emphasized that coding education can significantly enhance student performance in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. He believes that by learning how to code, students will acquire the skills necessary to be globally competitive in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
“This initiative by DepEd and iamtheCODE is a commendable effort to provide the youth with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital world”, Pimentel added.
The DepEd-iamtheCODE collaboration not only seeks to bridge the gender gap in the tech industry but also unlock the immense potential of young Filipino women. This partnership represents a major step toward fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for the Philippines.
