Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Monday that additional funds given to the Department of Education (DepEd) will be used to provide gadgets or computers to students or schools and would also aid the implementation of its Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Briones, during the “Laging Handa” public briefing, said that if DepEd will be given additional funds, this will definitely be used to address gaps in the implementation of its LCP -- especially to provide students with gadgets to be used for distance learning as well as to help in the reproduction of printed Self-Learning Modules (SLMs).
“Kung halimbawa may P389 million na ibibigay ang pamahalaan sa departamento, sigurado ako na malaking bahagi niyan ay mapupuntasa pangagailangan ng mga gadgets (If a P389-million budget will be given by the government to the department, I’m sure a big part of this will address the needs for gadgets),” Briones said when asked what the DepEd will do if the P389-million fund allocated for the Manila Bay “white sand” project is given to them.
In particular, Briones said that the additional funds may be used by DepEd for its “Last Mile Schools” project. “We have more than 3,000 schools that do not have connectivity and these are in isolated areas so they will need this,” Briones explained.
Briones explained that the additional funds will be used for gadgets, computers, and radios that students need to ensure learning continuity as DepEd implements distance or blended learning this school year (SY) 2020-2021.
“Kung may budget kami na ganon ang halaga eh mapupunta yan, sigurado ako, sa gadgets, sa mga computers, sa mga radio (If we have that budget of that amount, I’m sure it will go to gadgets, computers, and radios),” she said. For instance, the said funds will be used to buy radios that are “waterproof and have a certain level of capacity and reach.”
Briones said that the P389 million can also be used in the implementation of the LCP -- especially in the reproduction and distribution of modules. “There are those who still prefer printed modules so this will be a very big help,” she added.