NEDA approves P26-B cyber-education program

The government has approved a P26.48-billion “cyber-education" project to provide educational instruction to far-flung areas using satellite-based technology. The project, approved by the National Economic and Development Authority’s Cabinet Committee, will be mainly funded through a P22.77-billion loan from China. The government will come up with the remaining P3.71 billion. The NEDA said that through the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program, many public schools and out-of-school youths and adults throughout the country can access live and interactive broadcast instruction using satellite-based technology. Users will also be able to get information and communication technology-based instructional packages through the Internet and a dedicated education network. The Department of Education will implement the project. The NEDA added that satellite-based equipment, computers and other digital equipment will be deployed in public schools covered by the project. "The public schools will be connected with central training studios where the lectures on mathematics, sciences, English, Filipino, technical-vocational skills, and other subject relevance will be conducted and recorded as well as broadcasted via satellite," the NEDA said. Courseware and educational materials on major subjects will also be developed and made available for free through video streaming services. There will also be transcript downloads on some necessary and significant topics of social relevance and scientific interests. The facilities will also be used to implement a distance-training program for teachers and other school stockholders, the NEDA said. "This e-education system will allow interactivity between and among the learners and teachers. It will allow the learners to deal with interesting and high quality lessons and to become well motivated and receptive to ideas presented through televised and other multi-media instructions," it added. The project also opens up to other members of communities so that they can still access the program even when the school does not use the facilities, the NEDA said. "This will serve as a form of informal education to improve their functional literacy and their capabilities in using computers and the Internet. These will be eventually become tools of learning and creativity that could improve work productivity," it added. -GMANews.TV