In an effort to ensure that no one will be left behind as the education sector transitions to technology, Education Secretary Leonor Briones underscored the need to prioritize the Last Mile Schools on this initiative.

DepEd, in a statement issued Monday, May 10, maintained that efforts and initiatives to ensure that learners - as well as teachers - located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged and conflict-affected areas (GIDCA) will be able to adapt to the changes in the education sector.

“I keep on saying that with or without the COVID-19 pandemic, we are already moving towards technology,” Briones said.

Last mile schools, according to DepEd, are those with less than four classrooms, usually makeshift and nonstandard ones; no electricity; no funds for repairs or new construction projects in the last four years; and a travel distance of more than one hour away from the center, accessible only through difficult terrain.

Likewise, these are schools with multi-grade classes, with less than five teachers, and a population of less than 100 learners, more than 75 percent of whom are indigenous peoples (IP).

The transition to technology, Briones said, is not something that is isolated from the rest of the country and the rest of the world. “All other agencies are moving towards the use of technology for various reasons,” she added.

However, Briones maintained that DepEd’s priorities are very clear. “We have to give priority to the Last Mile Schools, to the schools which are in the greatest need of these gadgets,” she said.