The City of Manila will issue tablets, laptops, and WiFi for public school teachers and students from Kinder to Grade 12 to aid in learning during the upcoming school year of 2020-2021.
Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso announced in his second State of the City Address on July 2 that the budget for the procurement of gadgets and WiFi has been increased to Php 1.065 billion from the previously planned Php 994 million in June 2020, owing to the increase in enrollment.
The budget has been allotted to support students and teachers in adapting to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) plan for “blended learning” in the new school year that begins in August.
As the threat of infection due to COVID-19 is anticipated to continue throughout the year, the “blended learning” scheme was developed to deliver learning modules to students’ homes as a form of distance learning that utilizes technology as media of instruction. With the lack of gadgets and internet access being the main concern for students, the Manila government has decided to provide such tools.
The Manila City government will buy around 110,000 tablet devices equipped with SIM cards and 11,000 laptops with pocket WiFi devices.
The devices will be distributed prior to the opening of the school year 2020-2021 by August 24.
With the data from the Manila Division of City Schools (DCS) showing that enrollment rate reached 100.46% with 270, 219 enrollees as of Friday, July 3 – exceeding the target of 268, 972 enrollees, the city leader wishes to thank the parents in following his advice to still enroll their children.
“Taos-puso ang aking pasasalamat sa lahat ng mga magulang dito sa Lungsod ng Maynila. Maraming salamat at kayo at sumunod sa aking payo na i-enroll ang inyong mga anak,” Domagoso said in The Capital Report on Facebook Live on July 3.
DCS Superintendent Dr. Maria Magdalena Lim mentions that they are glad to welcome the learners in Manila as they continue to work hand-in-hand with the local government in threshing out possibilities for Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) not only by providing gadgets and internet connections but also in producing modules for all the pupils.
Tagbilaran City has also decided to provide free pre-loaded pocket wifis to its students to assist online learning.
Other initiatives to aid student learning include Heart Evangelista giving away tablets, UST’s gadget donation drive, and UP’s free online Math and English bridge programs.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to the City of Manila’s efforts to provide technology tools to prepare students and teachers for new modes of learning and teaching in the new school year.
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