Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to utilize the P4 billion allocated for the agency under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 to address its digital needs for the benefit of public school teachers.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Gatchalian said that under Bayanihan 2, P4 billion has been allocated to assist DepEd in putting up Information Technology (IT) and digital infrastructure, for the implementation of digital education, and the use of alternative learning modalities, including the printing and delivery of self-learning modules.
“I would strongly suggest to allocate that (P4 billion) to our teachers, especially in technology that our teachers can use even after the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gatchalian said during a recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts, and Culture which he chairs.
During the committee hearing on DepEd’s preparation for the Oct. 5 class opening, DepEd Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla said the agency is waiting for the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) to confirm the availability of the P4-billion fund before they make any implementation guidelines.
The DepEd official also explained that considering the funds’ limitation, the agency has to decide on what items to prioritize, whether the funds will go to teachers’ laptops, self-learning modules, or other items.
But the senator said the law contains other provisions to support the implementation of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).
He said these include the provision of loan assistance, subsidies, discounts, and grants for the purchase of distance learning tools, including computers, laptops, tablets, and other Information and Communications Technology (ICT) devices.
The lawmaker also said the law authorizes using a portion of the Special Education Fund (SEF) of local government units (LGUs) to support the use of alternative learning modalities, digital education, and digital infrastructure.
“Ang modernisasyon sa ating sistema ng edukasyon, tulad ng mas malawak na paggamit ng teknolohiya para sa pagtuturo at sa pag-aaral, ay bahagi ng pagbangon ng ating mga paaralan mula sa pinsalang dulot ng COVID-19 (The modernization of our education system, like the wider use of technology for teaching and studying, is part of the efforts to help our schools recover from the damage brought about by COVID-19),” Gatchalian said.
“Sa tulong ng Bayanihan 2, mapapaigting natin ang modernisasyon ng ating mga paaralan, maaabot natin ang mas maraming mag-aaral, at maipagpapatuloy natin ang edukasyon sa ligtas na paraan (With the Bayanihan 2, we can strengthen the modernization programs of our schools, and many students can pursue and continue their studies in a safer manner),” he said.