Some 38 elementary schools in Metro Manila will receive advanced learning tools in the form of KidSmart Young Explorer computer units after the Philippine Government Department of Education and IBM Philippines, Inc. signed an accord yesterday.
The Department of Education (DepEd), through its Adopt-A-School Program, and IBM Philippines will provide 40 units of KidSmart Young Explorer computers to schools whose learning facilities were ruined
by typhoon Ondoy. Pre-school to grade three levels in Marikina, Pasig and Quezon City elementary schools have been chosen for this early childhood and grade school learning program.
Apart from the 40 sets of computers, KidSmart program package will also provide capacity building and training for the teachers and ICT schools coordinators on the use of the units and its software programs.
“We expect learning outcome to improve among our young pupils through the use of these advanced learning tools. This project is a big help in our efforts to further improve basic education in the country,” Philippine Government Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said.
KidSmart Young Explorer computer units are comprised of Young Explorer Unit, Lenovo Desktop PC (1.6 GHz, 512 MB RAM, 160GB HD, Windows XP), PC speakers and other accessories, and Riverdeep software which include teacher?s manual covering Science, Math, English, and Social Studies.
“Thanks to our private sector partners such as IBM Philippines for helping bridge the gap in education and for making technology accessible to our public schools,” Luistro added.
“We are very honored to partner with Department of Education for the Adopt-A-School Program. Through this, we hope to help in the full recovery of the schools, and embellish early learning for the Filipino children. This is part of IBM’s committed 40 million pesos (USD$860,000) worth of technology, services and expertise to the Philippines’ disaster rehabilitation and preparedness efforts initiated after Typhoon Ondoy,” James Velasquez, Country General Manager, IBM Philippines said.
The deal will be in effect for two years where DepEd is expected to provide policy directions to make sure the proper implementation of the program, assist in the monitoring, and help in the care and maintenance of the learning tools.
On the other hand, IBM shall add at least two trainers for a three-day orientation/training of the teachers and schools’ ICT coordinators on the use of the application programs that come with the package.
The three-day training seminar will include different areas such as The Theory of Multiple Intelligence and Its Application in the Classroom; Center-based Teaching and Learning Integrating Technology in the Classroom; Use of Productivity Tools (Lotus Symphony); and the Use of RiverDeep software.
Since its inception in 2009, IBM has donated over 210 KidSmart computers and trained over 1083 teachers, covering 184 schools and institutions in different parts of the archipelago, reaching Batanes to the north and Tawi-Tawi to the south. Over 800,000 grade school students already benefitted from the program.
The Adopt-A-School Program encourages private sector groups to work with DepEd in improving the basic education system. Corporations and individuals can help increase teacher training programs, donate school buildings, computer laboratories and textbooks, or sponsor medical and dental missions to public schools. Specifically, DepEd calls on the private sector to help meet their target of providing computer facilities and internet connectivity to all public secondary schools nationwide.
“We look forward to working with other non-government organizations to help us address backlogs in basic education in two years as part of the government’s serious reform efforts,” said Luistro. (PIA)
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