National Computer Systems (NCS) Steps Forward To Sponsor Lab Equipment For Cisco Local Networking Academies In EastOne Cluster

Cisco Systems and Temasek Polytechnic have announced the addition of six secondary schools in the EastOne Cluster to the Cisco Networking Academy Programme, a not-for-profit educational initiative aimed at preparing the younger generation of Singaporeans for the knowledge-based Internet Economy.

Temasek Polytechnic, a Cisco Regional Networking Academy, will support the six schools –Broadrick Secondary, Chai Chee Secondary, Dunman Secondary, Loyang Secondary, Ping Yi Secondary and Siglap Secondary – in areas such as instructor training, curriculum updates and lab equipment maintenance. The schools plan to introduce the four semester course, over two years, to their Secondary Three students at the beginning of the next school year.

Initially, the schools will have two network labs, situated in Dunman Secondary and Pingyi Secondary, from which they will conduct the Networking Academy course curriculum. National Computer Systems (NCS), a leading information technology services enabler, will sponsor the full range of networking equipment for one of the labs.

"The broad vision of the EastOne Cluster is to develop quality citizens for the 21st Century and it is clear to us and to the country that a well-grounded education in information technology is essential towards achieving that goal. That is why the Ministry of Education's IT Masterplan has become such an important blueprint for schools in Singapore to attain educational excellence. The Cisco Networking Academy Programme is a good way for us to execute that vision in our student's academic development," said Mrs. Yu Sing Tong, Superintendent of the EastOne Cluster.

Director of Temasek IT and Applied Science School, Mr Tan Dek Yam, said: "Temasek Polytechnic is a pioneer in computer networking education and is also the first Cisco Networking Academy in Singapore. As such, we have the expertise and experience which we are privileged to share with the EastOne Cluster schools. We believe that the Cisco Networking Academy Programme will enhance the interest of young students in the rapidly changing world of information technology and internet computing. These are areas where Singapore can become a world leader and it is exciting for us to be able to contribute to that effort."

NCS, the first corporate sponsor of the Cisco Networking Academy Programme in Singapore, wants more emphasis to be placed on high-tech education. "The information age is not about hardware or software, it's about people and we should not underestimate the value of formal IT training, especially early on in our children's education. This is why we are behind the Cisco Networking Academy Programme in secondary schools," said Mr Chua Ah Leng, Chief Technology Officer, NCS.
"In order for Singapore to be a leading hub for information technology in the next millennium, we need a pool of workers highly skilled in areas such as Internet and network technologies. The way to do that is to catch them when they are young and channel their career ambitions towards that path," he added.

Added Bill Chang, Country Manager for Singapore, Cisco Systems: "The Cisco Networking Academy Programme is our way of giving back to the community. We have dedicated a tremendous amount of effort and resources toward the course curriculum and the administration of the programme around the world because we feel strongly that computer networking skills is a key differentiator in the Internet Economy. Governments benefit from the programme as it develops a workforce skilled in the right tools, businesses have a bigger resource of IT skilled workers to hire from and schools have an advanced technology curriculum which is rigorous and comprehensive enough to meet their high educational standards. Already, students who are going through our programme have had a chance to put what they have learned to the industry test. In June, academy trainees from Chinese High School and Thailand's Assumption University helped set up the network for CommunicAsia '99 in Singapore. Last week, students from the Temasek IT & Applied Science School of Temasek Polytechnic cut their networking teeth on the SAPPHIRE '99 show network."

The EastOne Cluster will be joining a growing list of secondary schools in Singapore, which include Chinese High School and Greenview Secondary, that are incorporating the Cisco Networking Academy Programme into the overall school curriculum.

Note to Editors

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. More information on Cisco is available at www.cisco.com.

The Cisco Networking Academy programme was introduced in the U.S. in October 1997. The main objectives of the programme are to meet the increasing market demand for skilled networking professionals and prepare the next generation for the Internet Age. The curriculum was designed to be hands-on and interactive in order to help secondary school and tertiary students develop their problem-solving skills and nurture a lasting interest in networking technology. It equips students with conceptual and practical skills that will enable them to design, build, maintain and troubleshoot the networks that connect computers.

Cisco has committed networking equipment, course materials, and teaching resources worth over US$20 million to the programme throughout Asia. The Cisco Networking Academy programme is currently established in over 2,900 schools in 52 countries worldwide.

Cisco, Cisco IOS, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

About EastOne Cluster

The EastOne Cluster was one of the two secondary schools clusters formed in the Cluster Schools Pilot Project which started in January 1997. The rationale for cluster schools was to devolve more autonomy to schools through the appointment of the Group Superintendent. The objective was to facilitate and increase schools' responsiveness to change especially in the management of personnel, financial and other resources. Since the initiation of the Cluster Schools pilot project, EastOne Cluster has sought to forge an identity for the cluster, identify its aims and directions and thereby endeavoured to realise the benefits of the cluster concept.

EastOne also aims at facilitating the development of better instructional Programmes and more effective teaching and learning, keeping mindful of the need to create a more conducive teaching/learning environment through better school discipline and meaningful PCCG Programmes as well as allowing for success and richer experiences through enhanced extra-curricular activities.

About Temasek Polytechnic

Temasek Polytechnic has four academic Schools, the Temasek Business School, Temasek Design School, Temasek Engineering School, and Temasek IT & Applied Science School. It offers one of the most comprehensive and diverse range of full-time and part-time courses in Singapore.

The Polytechnic operates from its new 30-hectare campus in Tampines, overlooking the Bedok Reservoir. Built for a full capacity of 12,000 students, the Polytechnic presently has 11,500 students attending lessons. The new campus is built according to a masterplan that will take it into the next century.

The high-tech facilities and equipment, combined with a campus environment that emphasises innovation, will enable Temasek Polytechnic to meet the increasingly complex needs of tertiary education.

It also enables Temasek Polytechnic to fulfill its mission to educate and train a new breed of professionals with independent minds and practical skills – both to satisfy ever more pressing and stringent industry needs and to take innovative approaches to addressing rapidly changing industry and business trends in future.

ABOUT NATIONAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS (NCS)

National Computer Systems (NCS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Singapore Telecom Group. Contributing to the local Civil Service Computerisation Programme (CSCP) for the past 17 years, NCS has built up expertise and skills unmatched by any other IT company in Singapore. Since the restructure in April 1996, NCS has been making inroads into the commercial sector and gaining the support of numerous multinational corporations. With more than 1700 trained and experienced IT professionals in the region, NCS is well positioned to deliver projects of any size and scale. For more information on NCS, please visit our Website at http://www.ncs.com.sg.
NCS and the NCS logo are service trademarks of National Computer Systems Pte Ltd.