Computer laboratories would be available to each public elementary and high schools nationwide. This is according to Department of Education Undersecretary for administration Alain Pascua.
The department has allocated Php 4billion for computer packages because it aims to provide computer laboratories and internet connections to all public schools this coming school year. For 2016, they have Php1.6 billion for bidding for Department of Budget and Management procurement and another Php4 billion for 2017.
Pascua said that out of 46,752 public schools nationwide, only 12,163 have access to the internet. This means that 74% of the schools are still yet to be reached by this technology. He noted that budget and equipment were not the problems for some areas, but the availability of internet signals.
Thus, it is important to partner with the private sector, especially telecommunications companies, to help the government in providing infrastructures to remote areas and provide them with internet connections.
DepEd has chosen Globe Telecom as an official partner for the Adopt-A-School program where the telecommunications company will provide public schools internet connectivity, digital laboratory package with netbooks or tablets, mobile projectors, and WiFi dongles while teachers are trained on information and communication technology (ICT).
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) proposed more than 4,000 public schools to be connected to the internet in the coming years.
