(Left to right): Mr. Efi Ben-Matetyahu, Israel’s ambassador to the Philipines; Davao Mayor Mrs. Sara Z. Duterte; Mr. Shmuel Wiess, chairman and founder, Pass It Forward; Mr. David Rozenberg, lead educational program developer, Israel Sci-Tech Network; and Mr. Sagi Ben-Bassat, director of biotechnology and sciences, Israel Sci-Tech Network. Photo: Israel Sci-Tech Schools.

The largest city in the Philippines will implement an Israeli education model in one of its public high schools, it was announced this week.

The city of Davao signed an agreement with Israel Sci-Tech Schools — the biggest educational network in Israel — to have a local high school adopt the highly successfully I-STEAM curriculum and a program called “Excellence in Education: A Lighthouse Project.” The school’s curriculum will undergo changes to include aspects of the network’s programs in innovation, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, as well as upgrades to its science and technology labs, according to a press release.

The new educational model aims to add innovation and arts to traditional STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education to prepare students for various jobs in the future, enhance their creativity and teach them to appreciate the importance of design. There are also aspects of the curriculum that focus on teaching students about business organization, marketing and entrepreneurship.

The Philippines is the latest country to import the I-STEAM educational model. The specialized curriculum is already being used throughout Europe, Israel and schools in the United States.

“I-STEAM has transformed every school where it has been implemented. Our unique curriculum helps students become the leaders of tomorrow and our hope is that our partnership with Davao City will allow their students to establish themselves as future leaders in technology and innovation,” Zvi Peleg, director-general of Israel Sci-Tech Schools, said in a statement.

The implementation of the program in the Philippines is being organized by the City of Davao, Israel Sci-Tech Schools, and the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines, with help from the national Department of Education — Davao City Schools Division and the Pass It Forward Foundation.