Grab Philippines is joining efforts to help Filipino students improve their school performance under the “Ang mga Eskwelahan Labs ni PJ,” a project spearheaded by Cebu 3rd District Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia, amid concerns over the global academic ranking of the country.
Garcia’s project aims to boost the performance of students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in Cebu public high schools, and Grab Philippines said the transportation network would partner in any of these fields of study as part of its contribution to improve the learning environment in the province.
According to Grab Philippines Public Affairs head Atty. Sherielysse “Booey” Bonifacio, “our students have what it takes to excel in any field or area of study, but we recognize that they may need additional resources to help them develop their abilities to the fullest, and we believe this initiative by Cong. PJ can really help in that regard.”
Ang Mga Eskwelahan Labs ni PJ involves the initial donation of 20 units of the Versatile Instrumentation System for Science Education and Research (VISSER) to 10 public high schools in Cebu. VISSER enables over 50 science experiments in biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering via innovative handheld devices developed by the University of the Philippines (UP). The handheld devices come with sensors, data storage, control, interface, and analysis tools and are operable without a computer as they are power banks.
“As a leader in tech innovation, Grab Philippines understands the importance of nurturing the next generation of scientists and innovators. Supporting Philippine science education programs is our way of giving back and investing in the future of our country,” Bonifactio said.
“Our track record reflects our passion for harnessing technology for good. By supporting science education initiatives like ‘Ang Mga Eskwelahan Labs ni PJ,’ we want to contribute to efforts to equip Filipino students with the tools they need to develop the tech innovations of tomorrow,” she added.