RIYADH, 25 April — Another batch of Filipinos recently completed the educational cluster program conducted by the Computer Society of Filipinos or ComSoFil in Riyadh.
“We’ve just added 400 of our kababayan to the growing list of those who have benefited from the program. Our students are from different lines of work such as nurses, technicians, and plain housewives,” said June Zoilo, ComSoFil vice president for education.
Students of the first semester will march in a graduation ceremony set on June 6 at the Philippine Embassy grounds.
Mary Jane Tesiorna, a household help, will be one of the graduates.“I have learned software programs and I am sure it would somehow help me either in pursuing a secretarial job or establishing a business when I return to my hometown,” said Tesornia, who is from the northern Mindanao city of Butuan.
Keeping its commitment to share the expertise and knowledge of its computer and IT professionals for the benefit of the Filipino Migrant Workers, ComSoFil has been conducting bi-semestral educational cluster programs since the program was introduced in year 2000.
Zoilo said that instructors and facilitators are composed mainly of ComSoFil officers, advisers, and members who charge no fee for their services. However, he said that a total of SR150 is paid by students for the three-month duration of the program in a two-hour, once-a-week session.
“The fee is apportioned for procurement of educational materials such as handouts and CDs, payment of the venue and facilities, and funding of additional computers and other equipment like multi-media,” he explained. When asked if the student has the option to choose his or her preferred course, he said that initially, they assess enrollees based on their level of computer background, and then advise them to take up either software or hardware applications.
As listed in ComSoFil’s cluster programs timetable, courses offered in the first semester were Office Productivity 1 and 2, MS Access, basic visual programming, PC hardware assembly, web development, and networking..
IT System Securities, Linux, Advance MS Access (Male), WebDev and PC Hardware Assembly (for females), and Graphics & Multimedia will be offered in the second semester.
“To accommodate the increasing number of enrollees, we will also hold classes at International Philippine School-Riyadh for the second semester which will commence tentatively on Aug. 2, 2002,” Zoilo said.
Classes were held at Al-Taj International School for the first semester..
ComSoFil is an Accredited Community Partner (ACP) of the Philippine Embassy-Philippine Overseas Labor Office, and an affiliate member of the Philippine Computer Society (PCS) and the Philippine Internet Commerce Society (PICS).
Zoilo said those interested to know more about the group’s programs and activities may contact Henry B. McCann, the Society’s president, at 476-4779; June Zoilo at 473-1627; Danny Apas, vice president for membership, at 239-7896), or Rollie Manzano at 4768779 ext. 221.
