6.29.2004 ET

(CSRwire) Manila, Philippines - Nokia, the International Youth Foundation (IYF), Pearson, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today announced plans to double the number of schools served by Bridgeit- the innovative, interactive educational program first introduced last year in middle-schools across the Philippines. This extension comes at the request of the Philippine Department of Education, which piloted Bridgeit across the Philippines during the 2003-2004 academic year, and which today affirmed the program's initial impact.

Speaking at an event to welcome new schools and teachers to the program, Philippine Secretary of Education Edilberto DeJesus explained, "Last year, Bridgeit made it possible for 5th and 6th grade teachers in 40 Philippine schools to introduce educational videos to their students. Now, we have hard data that confirms this program's positive impact on student performance. We are immensely proud that Bridgeit will now be shared with even more of our country's teachers and students."

The research report, issued by the Philippines National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (NISMED), credits the Bridgeit program with improving teachers' competence and attitude in using technology and with spurring school officials, parents, and community leaders to support its technology-enhanced lessons. The study also found that among participating classrooms, students' performance and attitudes toward science and technology were significantly raised.

"The documented success of last year's pilot program demonstrates that existing mobile technologies can be used to make a real difference to teachers and to students," said Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II, President of the Ayala Corporation and former IYF Board Member, representing Bridgeit's local support team. "These early results affirm what the public, civil society, and private sectors can make possible when they work together to support education. And they highlight all that teachers can achieve when offered the opportunity to bring great learning materials into their classrooms."

Known as text2teach in the Philippines, Bridgeit is managed locally by the Ayala Foundation with the commitment and involvement of the Philippines Department of Education, SEAMEO Innotech, Globe Telecom, PMSI-Dream Broadcasting, and Chikka Asia.

Philippine schools served by the program will again this year include a variety of urban and rural districts. In addition to the learning materials delivered to their classrooms, Bridgeit provides professional-development training and standards-based lesson plans to teachers participating in the program. Each of these components will be similarly made available in future Bridgeit implementations currently being planned.

"We're very pleased with the success of the Bridgeit program demonstrating the impact of everyday mobile technologies in the classroom," affirmed Martin Sandelin, Senior Vice President, Customer and Market Operations of Nokia, speaking on behalf of Nokia, IYF, Pearson, and UNDP. "With the program's impact now documented in the Philippines, we will continue to work quickly together with local partners to extend Bridgeit to other countries."

About Bridgeit
Bridgeit -an initiative of Nokia, the International Youth Foundation, Pearson, and the United Nations Development Programme -uses mobile technology to bring interactive, multimedia education programs to teachers and students who otherwise would have no access to them. This year, fifth and sixth grade teachers in 83 schools across the Philippines will use mobile phones supplied by Nokia to access a library of more than 80 KnowledgeBox® science videos provided by Pearson. Once selected, videos will be downloaded via satellite to a Nokia digital video recorder connected to a television right in the classroom.

About Nokia
Nokia is committed to having a positive impact on society that extends beyond the advanced technology, products and services the company creates. Through its community involvement programs, the company prepares young people to embrace opportunities and possibilities created by the global economy and new technological advancements. The company has been an active regional contributor to youth and education causes for many years, with Nokia employees making their own contributions as volunteers in a range of programs throughout the world. More about Nokia can be found at www.nokia.com.

About International Youth Foundation
The International Youth Foundation (IYF) is dedicated to supporting programs that improve the conditions and prospects for young people where they live, learn, work, and play. Since its founding in 1990, IYF has worked with hundreds of companies, foundations, and non-governmental organizations to scale up existing programs and build long-term strategic partnerships. Currently operating in close to 60 countries and territories, IYF and its partners have helped millions of young people gain the skills, training and opportunities critical to their success. More about IYF can be found at: www.iyfnet.org.

About Pearson
Pearson is an international media company with market-leading businesses in education, business information and consumer publishing. Pearson Education is the world's leading learning company. Its textbooks, online learning tools and testing and assessment programs help to educate more than 100 million people worldwide. The Penguin Group publishes an unrivalled range of fiction and non-fiction, bestsellers and classics, children's and reference works for audiences in over 100 countries. The Financial Times and its network of business and financial newspapers and online services informs the daily decisions of more than 4 million businesses and investors worldwide. More about Pearson can be found at www.pearson.com

About UNDP
UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners. More about UNDP can be found at www.undp.org.

Media Enquiries:(and see below)

Pearson
Luke Swanson
+44 20 7010 2313
luke.swanson@pearson.com
www.pearson.com

UNDP
Cherie Hart
cherie.hart@undp.org
+66-2-882133

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