DIGITAL EDUCATION

ELAIZA JENECE N. CAO

The Department of Education unveiled the "DepEd Digital Education 2028", objective of which is to push for the digitalization of education in the country.

According to Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte, everyone would be included in this program, most especially teachers and students.

She said the backbone of technology lies in connectivity, reason why the department is aggressively taking steps to provide school-wide WiFi.

Citing the need to adapt to new ways of learning, the Deped Digital Education 2028 or DepEd digi-ed program includes setting up fast WiFi in public schools nationwide.

The department has been in talks with an internet provider to provide internet in remote areas, while 2,000 schools are already covered by satellite WiFi, said Duterte.

Another part of the program is the digitalization of educational resources which will help both students and teachers. Duterte said the agency is now in talks with publishers to produce digital textbooks as early as 2024.

DepEd is also looking at launching computer labs on wheels, which would include several laptops, smart TVs and other equipment to help students.

Digitization of learning resources is on the top of the agency's goals, the Secretary said. DepEd is also looking to procure digital textbooks as well as supplementary learning resources.

Organizers said improving education should be a priority in order to become a first-world economy by 2050.

They said there is a need to help teachers teach better and to provide the latest equipment and facilities in various schools nationwide.

Companies should create a special program or internship for senior high school graduates, they suggested.

-oOoThe author is Teacher I at Bebe Elementary School