DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/15 February) — The People’s College International (PCI) is planning to establish its “lifelong learning” center in this city.
Economist Peter Reger, PCI chief executive officer, told reporters Wednesday he already discussed the project with Mayor Sara Duterte who, he said, “likes the concept.”
“This is new,” he said, adding that if the city will take the lead to build such kind of school here, it will be the first in Asia.
A three-month feasibility study will be conducted to know the demands in the city and what skills to offer, among other important data.
He said he will meet the mayor again to discuss the feasibility study, as it would need funding.
Reger, who participated in the recent Philippine Development Forum here, said that the government’s economic development and poverty reduction clusters have recommended the integration of a policy for lifelong learning in the country’s development plan.
Open to everyone, lifelong learning “will address the country’s goal for inclusive growth,” Reger said in a media forum.
He said lifelong learning will address how “anyone can have access to knowledge, technology, and competence through an affordable system.”
For instance, the lifelong learning school can help small businessmen access the global market with little monetary expenses through the use of business process outsourcing or information technology, Reger said.
He said the PCI will develop a community-based system fit for Asian setting as inspired by a total 940 schools of lifelong learning in Germany.
The lifelong learning center, also called People’s College, would be affordable and will train people with skills that the community needs, Reger said.
The PCI’s vision includes assisting regions and cities to establish an “intelligent community-based system,” which is “rarely existing in developing countries.”
“It could contribute a lot to the social, economic, cultural and ecological development of a locality,” the PCI website stated.
Besides the Philippines in Asia, PCI is eyeing to establish People’s College in Vietnam and Indonesia. (Lorie Ann A. Cascaro/MindaNews)