Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), one of the world’s leading IT services, consulting and business solutions organizations, partners with leading local companies to help Filipino students face the many adversities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country’s education sector.

Recently, TCS Philippines announced the very first TCS Sustainathon in the country, an initiative to inspire and empower young minds to be part of the solution to help improve the overall learning system of the Philippines through the technology. With this year’s theme, “Inclusive education for all in 2030 ”, Participants are responsible for developing practical and innovative solutions, responding to challenge statements developed by TCS Sustainathon Challenge Partners – Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. (Converge) (PSE: CNVRG ), and Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines, Inc.

Build effective peer learning

The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation emphasizes the importance of social learning in the midst of distance and mixed education in this new normal setting. Through the Sustainathon initiative, the company aims to find practical and sustainable solutions on how students can help each other to learn better while maintaining healthy social interactions.

“The Sustainathon Challenge is a laudable initiative because it empowers young people through technology. We are delighted to be a part of the TCS Sustainathon Philippines and to work with these competent young people to improve our overall learning system. Filipino youth have so much passion and creativity to offer. What makes them more admirable is their compassion towards their comrades. We look forward to how they take advantage of technological trends to develop practical and impactful solutions that will produce an inclusive education sector, ”shares Grace Colet, Executive Director of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation.

Foster a safe environment for all

De La Salle-College de Saint Benilde (Benilde) identified the importance of inclusion and acceptance in the community regardless of religion, gender, social status or learning style. Cultivating strong social relationships has always been essential to general well-being. With this, Benilde hopes to seek solutions that would ensure the development of social relations between members of the Benildean community during and after the pandemic.

Jeremiah Adriano, OIC Director of the Center for Inclusive Education, shares: “The pandemic has imposed distance between us, but it has also forced us to work together. We need to build strong social relationships within our school community to create an inclusive space and a safe environment. We are proud to be one of TCS’s challenge partners in this initiative and to help promote strong bonds inside and outside our community. The De La Salle College of Saint Benilde is very happy to see the high impact innovation of young people to take up the challenge they have chosen.

Breaking the “digital divide” in education

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused numerous disruptions in the country’s education system. In a study published in February 2021, the National Social Weather Survey (SWS) reported that 13% or more of 4 million school-aged Filipinos were not enrolled in the fourth quarter of 2020. The modality shift learning highlighted the challenges of the students. access to an Internet connection, equipment and a space conducive to learning. Through the TCS Sustainathon Philippines, Converge hopes to see young minds co-develop innovative solutions that would help the company effectively use its pure fiber fixed broadband network and unique capabilities and partnerships to continue learning under the new standard.

“Learning in this new normal setting is a challenge for teachers and students, especially for those without a stable broadband connection at home. There is a dire need to address the issues of Internet connectivity and access to learning tools and materials. As the fastest growing fiber internet provider in the country, we are more than willing to collaborate with Filipino students on this Sustainathon Challenge to design solutions that will help us effectively serve students within unserved and underserved communities. Benjamin B. Azada, Director of Strategy at Converge Actions.

Taking literacy to the next level

Lack of access to learning materials and resources (technology and infrastructure) in remote areas and limited learning and consultation by students and teachers are some of the factors highlighted by the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines that affect the overall literacy of Filipino children. The pandemic has made matters worse, so the company is encouraging young people to take advantage of digitization to make learning materials easier to digest and access for teachers, parents and students. Ronald McDonald House Charity Philippines is eager to see a simple, scalable and useful innovation that can help further improve children’s reading comprehension, especially for learners in rural areas.

“As we immersed ourselves in the field to help improve children’s literacy in rural areas, we saw how much educational interventions need to be scaled up in terms of technology. While we recognize the effectiveness of the traditional localized type of learning, it is imperative for us to seek out innovations that will further contribute to the development of learners. We are grateful to be one of TCS Philippines Challenge Partners for TCS Sustainathon as it gives Filipino students the opportunity to share their unique ideas and come up with digital solutions that will help Filipino children to read. We believe in the ability of young people to create cutting-edge innovations that would answer the call that no student should be left behind, ”shares Marie Angeles, Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines.

Visit the TCS Sustainathon Philippines website to learn more about the TCS Sustainathon and the four challenge statements. Open to all 17-23 year old students nationwide, all they have to do is choose a challenge statement and brainstorm a solution. They can register and submit their entries on the TCS Sustainathon Philippines website until November 19.^st The winner of the place will receive 150,000 Php while the second and third placers will receive 100,000 Php and 50,000 Php respectively.

TCS Philippines remains keen to materialize the vision and mission of the company and its partners. Adopting the company’s Building on Belief philosophy where every initiative is deployed on the basis of a goal, TCS continues to work hand in hand with its partners to develop innovative, sustainable and scalable solutions that will help solve the most pressing issues. most urgent needs of the community. .

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