DepEd highlights role of technology to provide environments conducive to learning

Education Secretary Leonor Briones underscored the role of technology to cultivate an environment that is conducive for learners especially amid the changes in the learning set-up brought by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“We cannot talk about quality education without teaching our learners of the intricacies of technology, communication, creativeness, and invention,” Briones said as DepEd partnered with IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) on personal computer donation program.

DepEd partnered with IBPAP to to make it easier and more cost-efficient for IT-BPM firms to donate preowned but fully functional IT equipment to DepEd public schools around the country.

The initiative – which is the result of extensive discussions with a number of public and private sector entities – will minimize operational requirements and optimize the turnover process for the members of IBPAP and its partner associations including Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc., Global In-House Center Council, Contact Center Association of the Philippines, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines, and Philippine Software Industry Association.

“Through the partnership, we will be able to directly address the challenges that organizations often face when making a donation, including taxes and other related costs, documentation, lengthy timelines, and incurred manhours,” said IBPAP President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rey Untal.

“Once fully implemented, companies will hopefully feel more encouraged to initiate and sustain their individual outreach efforts,” Untal added.

IBPAP and DepEd noted that this milestone achievement comes at a very opportune time given the growing resource needs of the public education system.

Moreover, the mandatory refresh of digital devices within the IT-BPM sector assures that there is a readily available supply of computers to go around.

Also, as the Philippines’ largest job generator, the industry has always recognized the inestimable role of the Filipino talent to its sustained growth.

Accordingly, IBPAP has made it a priority to ensure that they are provided the best opportunities to attain, enhance, and harness their skills and capabilities.

As such, it stands to reason that beneficiaries of the program are students and teachers in the public education system who are in need of reliable learning tools, especially as they transition to online and blended schooling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Briones noted that the contributions of the IT-BPM sector “will surely make a great difference in DepEd’s efforts because while we already receive thousands of computer donations, we must also keep in mind that there are 26 million learners that need to be exposed, as early as possible, to the benefits and usefulness of technology if they are to survive in the real world.”

Source: Manila Bulletin