RIYADH, 29 July — A total of 301 Filipinos in Riyadh, including a 12-year-old boy, have completed an in-depth computer training program being offered by the Institute of Computer Engineers-International (ICE-I) Riyadh Chapter.

Of that number, 229 completed the Computer Hardware Engineering (CHE), the first course of the 3-module program.

Forty-two finished the second module — Basic Networking —and 30 graduates, from the separate class for women, finished Introduction to Computer Applications.

The next step for those who finish the first and second modules is Programming, which is said to be the toughest course.

But completion of at least the first two modules alone could be enough for those planning to set up their own Internet café, according to ICE-I instructors, who are offering the course as a community service.

“We want to assure our trainees that they will not only get the best computer training they are looking for but the latest programming as well,” said Ariel Gaan, Jr, president of ICE-I-Riyadh.

ICE-R’s hands-on training courses are not actually that difficult, provided the participant is focused. It takes only 20 hours or five Fridays to complete the CHE course, which is taught by computer engineers who are members of ICE-I.

Gaan himself was among the instructors in the training courses, which were held during Thursdays and Fridays at the Second Philippine International School (SPIS) in Suleimaniah District since May 11. The graduates got their certificate of completion on July 25.

Rommel Biag, a tea boy, and Jessie Leal, head of an engineering department, were recipients of “most outstanding trainee” awards in hardware engineering and basic networking, respectively.

The other instructors are Bong Mendoza, Tony Layco, and Norma Urian, who are certified computer engineers.

The instructors themselves are currently attending training on the programming language (software) Java J2EE conducted by Borland Software Corporation (BSC) of Middle East.

Most of of graduates were from the third batch of trainees since the institute launched its computer program last year.

Upon seeing the big number of graduates, Ronald de Perio, operations manager of Borland, expressed his assurance to the institute that his company would extend further training to accommodate more kababayan in the future.

He said that the training on Advanced Computer Hardware Engineering, Advanced Networking for Certifications, Visual Basic 6.0 Programming, AUTOCAD 2002 with 3D Applications are additional courses for the current batches of trainees.

The institute will soon announce when it will open its next training program.

In the Western Region, the ICE-I Jeddah Chapter is also preparing its own training activities. Chapter president Bibit dela Torre told Arab News they will make an announcement of their schedules when everything is confirmed.

ICE-I Dammam Chapter will also announce the opening schedule of its program for Filipinos in the Eastern Region when its president, Darwin Souza, returns from vacation.

ICE-I, an exclusive organization of computer engineers, is an accredited member of the Philippine Institute of Computer Engineers, Inc. (PhICEs).

The institute is also certified by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and registered under Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Philippine Embassy.