To further support the country’s shift to distance learning, the Department of Education (DepEd) is eyeing the release of a connectivity allowance for public school teachers and senior high school (SHS) students effective next year.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones has requested the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to issue P4 billion for the implementation of Digital Education, Information Technology, and Digital Infrastructure and Alternative Learning Modalities, as stipulated in the Republic Act No. 11494 or also known as the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.
“We recognize the importance of load allowance for our learners and teachers to deliver quality education despite these challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Briones said. “With support from our Congress and the DBM, we shall continue to push for more financial assistance to our stakeholders,” she added.
DepEd said the requested amount shall cover the provision of connectivity load for the 3.2 million SHS learners and around 900,000 teachers nationwide.
Once granted, teachers will receive P450 load allowance while SHS students shall have P250 per month for three months, which amounts to a total of P3.6 billion.
DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua, during a consultative meeting with school heads at Triangulo Elementary School in Naga City on Nov. 10, also said that it will be easier for teachers to download educational videos or talk to their students once connectivity load is provided.
DepEd noted that the remaining P400 million will be allocated to expand production of learning materials in the DepEd Commons, DepEd TV and Radio (P200 million), augment funds for printing and delivery of self-learning modules (SLMs) (P150 million), and establish 2,000 radio transmitters in the Last Mile Schools (P50 million).
Pascua also appealed to school officials to remind parents and learners regarding the free-of-charge or even without load balance) downloading of educational videos and SLMs from the DepEd Commons.
Students, Pascua said, can also watch DepEd TV live streaming for free at https://www.facebook.com/DepEdTVOfficial/. He added that DepEd is currently exploring “more ways to support distance learning by engaging telecommunication companies in the country.”
During the consultative meeting, Pascua alongside Undersecretary for Field Operations Revsee Escobedo, also answered issues and concerns of school officials on the repairs for DepEd facilities, as well as distance learning challenges brought by Super Typhoon “Rolly” (international name: Goni).