More public high schools to have computer labs

MANILA, Philippines - An additional 600 public schools will soon have their own computer laboratories, boosting the Philippines’ efforts to provide computer access to all secondary schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) said. Among the 6,382 public high schools nationwide, 600 high schools have been recipients of the DepEd Computerization Program for Fiscal Years 2003-2004 and 2006. The supplemental budget for fiscal year 2006 has also benefited 355 public high schools. To date, the combined efforts of DepEd, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Government of Japan have helped 5,269 public high schools nationwide. “Given the challenges both geographic and financial we face, ICT4E is the fastest and most economical means to improve basic education in the country," said Lapuz, referring to a DepEd initiated-program. ICT4E, as initiated by DepEd, focuses on five areas namely: ICT-Enabled Curriculum, ICT-Enabled Teacher, ICT-Enabled Governance, ICT- Enhanced Content, and ICT Infrastructure. The ICT-Enabled Curriculum seeks to develop materials that will produce graduates “with 21st century skills" through appropriate instructional materials and activities. The ICT-Enabled Teacher will provide capability trainings that hope to empower teachers, followed by ICT-Enabled Governance that defines digital solutions for greater transparency and effectiveness in governance. Through ICT-Enhanced Content, public school students are enriched with information which used to be unavailable to them. ICT4E was first expressed in the 2000 Dakar Framework for Action in line with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s goal to provide Education for All (EFA) by 2015. At the country level, it is to implement the Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda (BESRA). BESRA is a set of policy reforms aiming to significantly improve the basic education sector by 2010. It has five critical thrusts, namely: School-based Management, Competency-based Teacher Standards, Quality Assurance and Accountability Framework, Early Childhood Education and Alternative Learning System, and Reengineering DepEd Governance. Moreover, Lapuz said that through DepEd's Adopt-a-School Program, seven major programs have been initiated and sustained since 1994. Some of these private sector groups include Intel, Smart, Knowledge Channel, Microsoft, and Ayala Foundation. Lapus lauded these successful endeavors that significantly augmented the budgetary resources of the department. He reiterated that “education is a societal concern, and crucial to the success of DepEd's ICT efforts is the continued participation of the private sector." As a member of the Executive Board of UNESCO, Lapus repeatedly affirmed the pivotal role of ICT in education pursuant to international best practices. “Computerization is not meant to take the place of reading—a habit that we continue to spur among public school children. When carefully utilized, computers can complement books, and transform the learning experience of our children," Lapuz said. - GMANews.TV