GUEST COLUMNIST
By MAYOR FRANCIS ZAMORA
Ever since I became mayor in 2019, I have always envisioned San Juan City to have smart classrooms as this was part of my 10-point agenda in local governance.
Why? Because I strongly believe in empowering our students through progressive and up to date learning. Putting a premium on smart education ensures that our publicschool learners will be given the opportunity to be at par with those from the private schools.
First on my list is to transform our public schools into smart campuses by revolutionizing the classroom experience and bringing a new dimension to interactive and digital learning. We are veering away from the traditional blackboard and cartolina methods and have invested in digitalizing all our public schools by providing fiber optic internet connection and installing 55-inch Smart TVs in all classrooms. Free gadgets were also provided to all K-12 students in public schools, while the Grades 3 to 6 of Pinaglabanan Elementary School were given laptops in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) then headed by former Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan.
All public school teachers also have laptops on a one is to one ratio provided for by our city government.
Through our partnership with the Ayala Foundation for the <CODE> IT program, our teachers and students have been undergoing IT trainings and workshops.
I am grateful that no less than our Vice President and Department of Education Secretary Sara "Inday" Duterte, shares the same dream for the students particularly on digital learning. She articulated this in her message to San Juaneños during our installation launch of Smart TVs and free uniforms distribution in December 2022.
But San Juan’s smart learning campaign extends beyond the classroom. We also installed free fiber optic internet connection in the homes of our public school students who reside within the city.
In terms of expanded social services, we have also provided free school and P.E. uniforms, and for SY 2023-2024, we will be giving free rubber shoes to all K-12 public schools students.
To further motivate our students in their studies, we have city ordinances providing for cash incentives to those graduating or moving up with honors, ranging from ₱2,000 to ₱10,000. The LGU has also released ₱3,000 to all Grade 12 graduates.
For students winning local, national and international awards in various academic, arts, and sports competitions, we appropriated funds for incentives ranging from ₱3,000 to ₱20,000.
For school year 2021-2022 alone, San Juan public school students and teachers have bagged more than 400 medals in various academic, sports, and arts competitions, and leadership awards and recognitions. These include the prestigious International Mathematical Olympiads in the Philippines, China and Thailand.
San Juan is also transforming the physical landscape in education with modern infrastructure. We have constructed new school buildings that have their own wooden covered basketball courts.
In the coming years, we will continue to prioritize and invest in the education of our public school students and teachers. We will pursue this with a holistic approach to ensure that they will not only excel in academics and sports but also in leadership. We will continue maximizing the use of technology to produce adept and tech-savvy students and graduates. The key is to empower them by providing the support, facilities and means which are comparable or even better than what private schools have.
In my message during the recent graduation and moving up ceremonies, I reaffirmed my support to all our public school students — that all throughout their education, from Kinder to Grade 12 including those who will be going to college whether in PUP San Juan or in other colleges and universities, that the city government will continue to provide various projects and programs for them, including the ₱3,000 educational assistance to every San Juaneño family who has students who will be enrolling in any of our public schools in San Juan.
On a more personal note, I myself am a father to four students and I see the quality of education that they enjoy from the private schools. This motivates me to work even harder in order to bridge the great divide between what public and private school learners receive from the educators and from us, as policy makers and implementors.
Technology plays a pivotal role, but equally important is the comprehensive and progressive learning mindset that will give my smart young constituents the best head start in life.
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I welcome my readers to this space, hoping to address issues that are not only organic to San Juan but more so, relevant to your lives as metro residents. As Metro Manila Council (MMC) President, I wear another hat that not only seeks to improve the lives of San Juan’s smart learners but also to address our shared concerns (and yes, problems) as urban dwellers who dream of a better Metro Manila for all.
(Mayor Francis Zamora of the City of San Juan is the president of the Metro Manila Council, the chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council, the vice chairman of the Regional Development Council, and the regional representative of the National Capital Region in the League of Cities of the Philippines.)
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