August 30, 2024 - The Department of Education (DepEd) and iamtheCODE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Thursday to open doors for Filipino women and spark their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Design (STEAMD) fields.
Through this partnership, iamtheCODE will provide coding skills lessons to female high school students in selected pilot schools. This initiative aims to bridge the gender gap in the technology sector and encourage more women to pursue careers in STEM.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara and iamtheCODE Founder and CEO Lady Mariéme Jamme led the signing ceremony. Witnessing the event were First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Karen Davila, UN Women’s Darlene Ty-Nilo, Philippine Ambassador to Spain Philippe J. Lhuillier, and members of the DepEd executive committee.
iamtheCODE is an organization committed to empowering women in STEAMD fields. Their goal is to train 1 million women coders by 2030.
Under the partnership, DepEd and iamtheCODE will collaborate to develop a curriculum that will introduce female students to basic programming concepts, problem-solving skills, and the fundamentals of coding languages such as Python and HTML. The coding lessons will be conducted weekly for a duration of six months in selected public and private schools nationwide.
DepEd Secretary Angara expressed his optimism about the partnership, saying, "This initiative is a significant step towards empowering Filipino women and equipping them with the skills they need to thrive in the digital age. By providing them with coding education, we are opening doors to countless opportunities and helping them realize their full potential."
Lady Mariéme Jamme, Founder and CEO of iamtheCODE, emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. "We believe that everyone, regardless of gender, should have the opportunity to learn coding and contribute to the technological advancements of our society. By partnering with DepEd, we aim to inspire more young women to pursue careers in STEM and create a more equitable and inclusive tech ecosystem," she said.
The partnership is expected to benefit thousands of female high school students across the Philippines. It is anticipated that the program will not only enhance their coding skills but also foster their confidence, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.