Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is without doubt a bright spot in the country’s economic development. In particular, the growth of industries engaged in business process outsourcing as phenomenal.

In call centers alone, there are reportedly 20, 000 vacancies and this is growing at 15 to 20 % a year.

The limitation has been the capability of the educational system to produce graduates with the skills needed in these call centers. If we put in the demand in other related industries such as medical transcription and data entry, then the shortage is multiplied many times.

 “So what are we waiting for?” you might say.

 Good question.

  Now, to state education.

  Our state universities and colleges must respond by providing the needed manpower.

  It is not enough that they produce graduates in ICT courses. These graduates should have the skills acceptable to ICT employers.

In the recent trip of Convergys, a major call center, to Tacloban City only 1% of the 2,700 who applied meets the standards and passed the screening.

The mismatch between skills offered and skills needed is very clear.

 We have to do something “revolutionary” and “innovative”.

First to realize this is the Leyte Normal University. It will expects to offer a short course during this summer of 2006 and revise its curricula to include ICT related subjects as electives in all courses. In fact, it will offer a BS Computer Science course in June 2006.

I hope these initiatives really produce the kind of skills ICT companies need.

 As the premier teacher education school in Eastern Visayas, do we have reason to doubt the result of this initiative?