No urgent need to buy gadgets

Catherine V. Torres

THE Department of Education has reminded teachers that there is no urgent need to buy laptops or computers, despite the shift towards other alternative delivery modes.

The beauty of the blended learning approach, the DepEd said, is that there are options available for everyone.

Despite the availability of online learning as a teaching mode this school year, there is no urgent need for laptops for teachers and students alike.

DepEd, however, recognized the importance of having the right equipment for the task at hand, and is striving to immediately provide Public School Teachers with laptops and other equipment.

As early as April, the Office of the Undersecretary for Administration has released a Memorandum allowing school heads to release/ lend equipment to its teachers. OUA Memo 00-04200029 provided guidelines enabling public school teachers to borrow IT equipment such as desktop computers, laptops, tablet PCs, and smartphones from their schools for use during the pandemic and in preparation for SY 2020-2021.

Similarly, a set of guidelines was also prescribed for select learners who wish to borrow equipment from the school through OUA Memo 00-0720-0063, subject to the approval of the school head. The Learner Enrolment and Survey Form will be the primary basis for identifying learners who may borrow devices, with priority given for learners with disabilities.

Under the Digital Rise Program, the DepEd is moving towards the direction of providing all schools with the appropriate IT equipment, including providing laptops for all public school teachers.

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The author is Teacher III at Duquit High School